FORGOTTEN WOODLANDS JUNE 2015 NO 261 COMMUNITY GROUP FUNDING UNDER THREAT LAMENT OF A BRUSH-TAILED PHASCOGALE URBAN GROWTH VS CONSERVATION NATIONAL PARKS BEING SHORT-CHANGED PLASTICS BUILD UP IN PORT PHILLIP BAY FERAL DEER ON THE RISE Correction: On page 38 in Park Watch March 2015, the Boneseed blitz story incorrectly stated that Stefanie Rennick was a member of Bayside Bushwalkers. Back in the 1980s Stefanie Rennick, a long-time Melbourne Women's Walking Club (MWWC) and VNPA member, together with park managers, allocated blocks on the Cook Street spur of Arthurs Seat State Park to MWWC and the VNPA for boneseed removal. She also approached the Bayside Bushwalking Club and Marg Hattersley to take on a block. After years of weeding, Bayside's block is now almost clear of boneseed. Be part of nature

PRESIDENT Russell Costello DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel CONTENTS Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 3 From the President ABN 34 217 717 593 3 From the Editor Telephone: (03) 9347 5188 Facsimile: (03) 9347 5199 4-6 Forgotten woodlands, future landscapes E-mail: [email protected] 7 Coalition seeks to undermine Web: www.vnpa.org.au community fundraising VNPA’S VISION 8-9 We need a plan to protect biodiversity We share a vision of Victoria as a place with a diverse, secure and 10 Waterways and wetlands healthy natural environment cared for and appreciated by all. 11 Alpine grazing ban sealed! EDITORIAL COMMITTEE 12-13 Property developers undermining Matt Ruchel, Philip Ingamells, Chris Smyth. conservation ADVERTISING 14 A road running through it? Maxine Hawkins, [email protected] 15 Burning native forests is GETTING INVOLVED IN VNPA NOT renewable energy Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s wild and beautiful places. 16 A small swamp full of life You can: 17 Catching cats on French Island • make a donation 18 Canal estate threat to coastal wetlands • become a regular giver or member • volunteer. You’ll be welcome in the office, on a campaign or in a park 19 Burn target gets the thumbs down • leave a bequest to VNPA in your will. 20-21 In Parks: Baw Baw National Park PUBLISHING POLICY 22 Zoo working to save local wildlife All advertisements should be compatible with VNPA policies. Publication 23 Victoria’s public land gets the once-over ... again of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of the 24-25 Secretive, unfair fund cheats our parks advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves the right to refuse any advertisement at any time. 26-27 Community acts on litter in the plastic age Park Watch may be quoted without permission provided that acknowledgement 28 Community shooting down spa resort proposal is made. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. 29 “Stirling? Now don’t you worry about that.” GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS 30 Grow West celebrates You’re always welcome to contact the editor to discuss ideas for articles. 10 years of community action Phone the VNPA or email [email protected]. Articles may be 31 Another big planting for Project Hindmarsh submitted by email, on disk or as hard copy. Include your contact details and 31 Weekend willow pull brief biographical information. Photos, maps and drawings are needed too. Digital photos should be 300dpi and around 8cm by 12cm. 32-33 Feral deer on the rise COPY DEADLINE for September 2015 Park Watch is 1 August 2015. 34 Rewriting Victoria’s invasive species laws 35 Book review DESIGN Mary Ferlin PRINTING Adams Print Flooded forest and desert creek: FRONT COVER Ecology and history of the River Red Gum A Striated Pardalote finds shelter in an old tree hollow. Land 36-37 Book review clearing, firewood collection, burning off, mining and logging Land of sweeping plains: are gradually destroying the trees on which many native Managing and restoring the native grasslands species depend. Photograph by Chris Tzaros. of south-eastern Australia BACK COVER 37 Book review This healthy mossbed and peat bog pool are signs of a long Let the land speak: A history of Australia – absence of stock grazing in Baw Baw National Park. Expanding how the land created our nation deer populations can change that. Photograph by David Tatnall. 38 Marine and coastal updates Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 39 Doug Ralph: a tribute

2 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 From the President PHOTO COURTESY RUSSELL COSTELLO COURTESY PHOTO

A big pat on the back to all of VNPA’s campaign supporters Ahead of us, we also want to contribute to the reviews of the and staff, and to the Minister for Environment, Climate state’s proposed Victorian Biodiversity Strategy, the Flora and Change and Water, the Hon Lisa Neville. The cattle are Fauna Guarantee Act, vegetation clearing controls, the Victorian gone for good! Environmental Assessment Council’s statewide review of public land, and the proposed marine and coastal act. A lot of work! The Government’s legislation to exclude cattle grazing from the Alpine and Red Gum national parks successfully passed The review of native vegetation clearing controls is worrying. through the Upper House of state parliament. Rumour has it that the new environment department intends that its application of computer-generated vegetation maps (which I call Thanks also to the Victorian Greens, the Australian Sex Party Enid Blyton maps because they contain so much childish fiction at and the Democratic Labour Party for supporting the bill. This site scale) will be more dictatorial, with even less scope for real on- puts an end to four years of dodgy ‘scientific’ grazing trials. ground ecological conditions to influence a clearing decision. I wrote a personal ‘thank you’ to those in the Upper House Clearly we will still need your help campaigning for a better who voted for getting rid of the cows, pointing out that their deal for the flora and fauna ‘protected’ in our park system, as decision was more than just a sound one for the environment well as those areas still totally at risk. Minister Neville has kept – it was also a sound economic one. several environmental electoral promises. We hope there is more to come. PW Great achievement that it is, we still face many challenges • in the Alps. Feral horse numbers have expanded and deer Russell Costello, VNPA President populations are getting out of control in the forested mountain slopes. Both are causing serious ecological damage, but the impact of the horses is catastrophic in some areas. Aerial views of the alpine plains, particularly in the more easterly blocks, show hundreds of hectares of pugged and eroding watercourses and bogs. We urgently need a strategic and humane culling program for both horses and deer – and a long-term solution – but there are limited resources to achieve it. For the first time in four years, we saw an increase in the From 2015 budget of $21 million for park management, although there is a way to go to reverse the damage of the long-term the Editor declining trend. This decline has been so great that park rangers have just about ThePark Watch editor, Michael Howes, has taken a become one of our significant rare and threatened species. well-deserved break and the enjoyable task of bringing this Those that remain are often distracted from ‘rangering’, doing June issue to you has been mine, with the generous support work once done by support staff because of years of staff cuts of VNPA staff and the many contributors. that we’ve been told ‘don’t target ranger numbers’. From feral cats on French Island to feral deer in The Grampians What’s the point in giving fragile environments legal (and plenty of other places in Victoria), the loss of honeysuckles protection provided by national parks and other reserves, if in our woodlands and the pressure on grasslands at the edge of resources are inadequate to protect them from physical threats. a sprawling Melbourne, the secretive allocation of funds away from national parks, community action on plastics pollution We will continue to campaign for the Great Forest National in Port Philip Bay and the pulling of willows and the planting Park to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum. The status of this of trees, the values of rivers, small swamps and Baw Baw species has just been raised to ‘critically endangered’ under National Park, and excellent books in review are some of the the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity stories you will encounter in this issue of Park Watch. PW Conservation Act, identifying logging and fire as the chief • threats to its survival. Minister Neville is putting a task force Chris Smyth process in place, which is encouraging.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 3 PHOTO: GERRY GILL GERRY PHOTO: A single old honeysuckle survives at Mt Alexander – just. FORGOTTEN WOODLANDS, future landscapes

IAN LUNT REPORTS ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHEOAK, HONEYSUCKLE, LIGHTWOOD AND CHERRY FROM OUR WOODLANDS.

Picture a gorgeous woodland in the verticillata), Wild Cherry (Exocarpos ‘… nearly all the trees were shiacks [she early 1800s. What do you see? Majestic cupressiformis), Lightwood (Acacia oaks], — not the eternal gum-trees, — and gum trees with bent old boughs, golden implexa) or Blackwood (Acacia these, interspersed with Banksias, now in grasses, a mob of sheep or kangaroos, melanoxylon). fresh foliage, and new pale yellow cones, and a forested hill in the distance? or rather bottle-brushes, with a sprinkling Was it the luminous landscape of a Did you picture a woodland of gums and golden wattles, gave what Hans Heysen painting, perhaps? dominated by any of these species? you rarely see in that country, a variety of If not, I wonder why. Do we picture foliage and hue’ (Howitt p. 206). It’s an iconic Aussie landscape. But eucalypt woodlands because eucalypts something’s missing. The trees are now dominate our local bush? In Early surveyors inscribed combinations wrong. Or at least, they aren’t all there. doing so, did we forget the felled of ‘oak, honeysuckle and gum’ across species and only remember the hardy many survey plans, as on the early map Two hundred years ago, another group and persistent? of Mt Alexander in central Victoria of trees – honeysuckle, oak, lightwood shown opposite. Mt Alexander is still and cherry – formed extensive Indigenous Australians, early white covered by bush, but it’s now dominated woodlands across many parts of south- explorers and settlers knew these by eucalypts, not Silver Banksia. I east Australia. Today we call these trees woodlands well. William Howitt wonder how many honeysuckles survive Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), extolled the beautiful sheoak and on the range, and how far away the Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina banksia woodlands near Melbourne: nearest large population might be.

4 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 The woodlands of honeysuckle and oak disappeared as the trees fed the stoves and the seedlings fed the sheep of the new colonists. Property-conscious landholders avidly removed the untidy banksias:

‘Clearing the timber has done much, both towards improving the pasture and adding to the beauty of the estate. The country is gently undulating, and in its natural state lightly timbered with gum, honeysuckle and lightwood trees. As the honeysuckles fall and cover the ground with dead wood, a system is being carried out all over the estate of cutting down and burning of all these trees, leaving only the lightwoods and gums.’ (The Burrowa News, 13 August 1880, p. 3).

Widespread clearing guaranteed that future generations will never have the opportunity to complain about too much woody debris from old (CV.VIC.GOV.AU) VICTORIA CULTURE MAP: banksia trees. Detail from an 1854 map of central Victoria showing the northern end of Mt Alexander. Mt Alexander is still covered by bush, but it’s now dominated by eucalypts, not Silver Banksia. From the hills to the plains… With the trees, went the birds… honeysuckle woodlands hosted a The woodlands of sheoak and cacophony of birds, interrupting honeysuckle, lightwood and cherry This isn’t a botanical requiem. William Howitt’s peaceful sojourn: clothed the flat plains and the rolling The demise of the oak and hills. They were particularly common honeysuckle woodlands affected an ‘…the dogs in continual excitement on basalt soils, as William Howitt entire ecosystem, not just a few trees. with the noises of vast numbers of noted: ‘So off I went… through a Eucalypt, honeysuckle, cherry and parrots, paroquets, and wattle-birds, wood of Banksia trees, which, as well oak each provided specific foods which were feasting on the honey of as shiack [sheoak], particularly affect and resources for insects, birds the Banksia flowers’ (Howitt 1858, volcanic soil…’ (Howitt p. 215). And and mammals. In full bloom, the p. 215). also abundant – according to the first Continued overleaf edition of the Geology of Victoria (Ulrich 1875) – on granite hills: Bringing back banksias and sheoaks ‘Granite – This rock occupies a considerable portion of the area of the The Glenelg Hopkins and Corangamite catchment management authorities colony, forming larger and smaller are working with their communities to return banksias and sheoaks to the isolated tracts and massives…The higher landscape of the Victorian Volcanic Plain. points and spurs are in most cases quite bare, or support but a poor forest- The project is focussing on three rapidly disappearing key species: Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) growth of gum-tree (Eucalyptus), and, and Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa). as specially characteristic, of she-oak (Casuarina) and honeysuckle (Banksia).’ The general aims of the project are to: y map past and current distributions of the three species This statement – that honeysuckles y conduct genetic studies on individual populations to determine were common enough to be seen as genetic health and viability ‘specially characteristic’ of granite y establish seed orchards for the species for future seed collection. outcrops – staggers me. Nowadays most granite hills have few if any For more information, contact Aggie Stevenson, banksias. Instead, the ghostly Biodiversity Projects Coordinator, woodlands persist in place names and Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority. road signs – at ‘Sheoaks’ and ‘Oaklands’ Phone: (03) 5571 2526. and along many a ‘Honeysuckle Creek’.

PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • JUNE • JUNE 2015 2015 NO NO 261 261 5 5 Continued from previous page

In flowering Silver Banksias near Across broader landscapes, we can We see many small losses, and know of Sunbury, naturalist Isaac Batey watched re-create some of the functional diversity other changes before we arrived. But the birds we now call New Holland that once existed by planting nectar-rich we remain oblivious to how big these Honeyeaters and Rainbow Lorikeets trees of other species as surrogates for changes become as they accumulate (Batey 1907). The she-oak woodlands the vanquished honeysuckles. over many generations. supported different birds again. Over Whatever we choose, the landscape of a century ago, Mr G.F. Gill recorded We forget the expansive, noisy the future is a world that we’ll create. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and woodlands of honeysuckle and oak, and We can use the past as a signpost Spiny-cheeked Honey-eaters in the remember only the locations of a few old to embolden our visions, or we can oaks near Ararat, while Isaac Batey banksias, and a few more dead plants. saw his first flocks of Cockatiels in the embroider the past like a fading signpost. Sunbury sheoaks. We picture a past landscape dominated Either way, no action = no future. by eucalypts, because we forget the So think big. • PW Not surprisingly, the birds disappeared felled species and remember the hardy as the honeysuckles and oaks were and the persistent. Ian Lunt is Associate Professor in felled and cleared. Isaac Batey lamented Vegetation Ecology at Charles Sturt the loss of: Why does it matter what a landscape University and for 30 years has worked as looked like over a century ago? an ecologist, researcher and lecturer. You can find more of his fascinating stories at From one perspective, it doesn’t matter www.ianluntecology.com. GRey-cRowned babbleRs: at all. We can design landscapes to REFERENCES ‘Since the almost total conserve birds and other organisms without knowing about, or attempting Batey, I. 1907, ‘On fifteen thousand acres: destruction of sheoaks to re-create, past patterns. As climate its bird-life sixty years ago’, Emu 7, 1-17. this bird has taken to the change intensifies, our children will Hill, G.F. 1907, ‘Birds of Ararat District’, eucalyptian tracts' have to do this more and more. From Emu 7, 18–23. another perspective, a primary goal of history is to create morality plays for Howitt, W. 1858, Land, Labour, and Gold or the future. Two Years in Victoria with Visits to Sydney and van Dieman’s Land, Full text available Hooded Robins: Picture two regions. In one, online. eucalypts were always dominant Ulrich, G.H.F. 1875, Geology of Victoria. A ‘the wholesale destruction of and honeysuckles rare. In the other, descriptive catalogue of the specimens in casuarinas apparently affected a honeysuckles were once dominant and the Industrial and Technological Museum change in former habits’ abundant. In both, a handful of dying (Melbourne), illustrating the rock system of honeysuckles remain. Victoria, Mason, Firth and McCutcheon, Melbourne. Full text available online. What would you do for the honeysuckles in each landscape? Would you have a bigger vision for banksia VaRied sittellas: conservation in the second region? If On its last legs; a veteran Silver Banksia ‘A good 50 years have gone you would, it’s because our knowledge in western Victoria. of past landscapes informs not just since this bird was seen, the the content, but also the scale, of our trees having been removed’. visions for future landscapes. We think bigger when it was bigger.

In many regions Silver Banksias can All three species are now listed as no longer be planted across large areas. Declining Woodland Birds across There just aren’t enough seeds. More Australia. abundant sheoaks, wattles and other species are planted in their place. In Shifting baselines, future these areas the best prospect for the landscapes banksias is to collect cuttings and seeds from every surviving plant, The decline of the oak and honeysuckle create seed orchards that contain all woodlands, and our failure to recognise the inter-mixed plants and overcome its scale, is a textbook example of the the grinding poverty trap of genetic shifting baselines syndrome. isolation. These orchards will inspire further action, as they host the first Each generation views the condition of bustling woodlands full of squawking an ecosystem when they first saw it as ‘parrots, paroquets, and wattle-birds’ the new normal. for over 100 years.

6 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 PHOTO: ANNA FOLEY PHOTO: Coalition seeks to undermine community fundraising

DR JOAN STAPLES REPORTS ON EFFORTS BY THE FEDERAL COALITION TO REMOVE THE CHARITABLE STATUS OF SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS. PHOTO: COURTESY MATTHEW MACKAY, INNER LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY MACKAY, MATTHEW COURTESY PHOTO: The community expresses its opposition to the leasing of a large part of Point Nepean National Park to a property developer at a rally organised by VNPA which, along with other environment groups, could have its funding targeted by federal Coalition politicians.

Is Australia in a parallel political interpreted by ‘market’ values. NGOs include the Institute of Public Affairs, dimension? Our elected leaders were not seen as legitimate players and the conservative think-tank that has deny the existence of climate change, their lobbying was seen as interfering led campaigns trying to silence NGOs. and they criticise environmental with this ‘market’, not as part of Nor does it include political parties who organisations, such as VNPA, for the democratic process. They were can receive tax-deductible donations. speaking up to defend the beauty praised if they planted trees and fed There is also no mention of the fact and significance of our natural the homeless, but were attacked if they that business can lobby and influence environment. lobbied on the environment or poverty. government policy as much as they like, then claim this as an expense reducing Our Prime Minister says ‘We don't Under the Abbott government the their income and their tax. support, as a Government and as a same ideology is being turned on Coalition, further lock-ups of our NGOs again, but with a new twist – a NGOs like the VNPA are an essential forests. We just don't support it. We focus squarely on the environment part of our democratic fabric. They help have quite enough national parks’. movement. make better policy by allowing citizens to come together to express their points of A House of Representatives Inquiry is In June, the Federal Council of view. They can consider a longer vision looking at the ability of environmental the Liberal Party unanimously than the next election, they are a balance environmental nongovernment recommended stripping environmental to the views of powerful economic organisations (NGOs) to offer tax NGOs of their ability to receive tax- interests, they hold governments to deductibility for donations. Even deductible donations. Tasmanian account and they express regional and before the Inquiry has received MP Andrew Nikolic named the ACF, local variations needed in policy. evidence, Government members of the Bob Brown Foundation and the the committee are saying they have Environmental Defenders Offices The richness of our social fabric depends identified 100-150 environmental and accused them of ‘untruthful, on organisations like the VNPA to throw NGOs they want to remove from the destructive attacks on legitimate up a variety of views and possibilities current list of those eligible. The VNPA business’ and of ‘political activism’. that dream of the society and the could be included in that list. Now this Federal Liberal Party environment we might enjoy. Penalising resolution has been turned into a the environment movement will not What is going on? House of Representatives Inquiry. work for this Government. The right to speak up and defend the The love of natural places runs deep and environment has been under attack What about other NGOs? cannot be suppressed by bureaucratic since the Howard government. There This Inquiry does not include other overkill. However, it is a sad day to find were attempts to silence NGO voices, NGOs receiving tax-deductible ourselves living in a parallel universe, with policies like ‘confidentiality clauses’ donations. It does not include ACOSS where our leaders no longer value our that prevented NGOs speaking to the and its social welfare organisations, environment and seek to suppress voices media if they received federal money. or the international development that speak for it. • PW These attacks were ideologically based, associations, the consumer movement Dr Joan Staples is a public commentator saying that everything should be or churches. It certainly does not and academic based in Melbourne.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 7 We need a plan to protect biodiversity

A BRUSH-TAILED PHASCOGALE WRITES ON WHAT THREATENS VICTORIA’S BIODIVERSITY – AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

Brush-tailed Phascogales are threatened with extinction if their habitat continues to be cleared.

G’day. I bet you’ve never read a story not many of us left. I’m afraid we’re More than half of Victoria’s native in Park Watch written by a Brush- heading for extinction. In fact, there vegetation has been cleared. Of what’s tailed Phascogale before but I guess have been no sightings of any of us in left, more than half has been fragmented, there’s a first time for everything. Gippsland for more than 25 years. We so it doesn’t really work as an ecosystem. may only have a few hundred breeding More than 80 species have become I’m writing from my nice warm hollow pairs left in the whole of Victoria. in an old forest tree. That’s where the extinct since Europeans arrived and females bear our young – usually in Land-clearing, firewood collection, a 1,000 species or more are rare, near litters of 5 to 8 – that stay in the nest burning off, mining and logging are threatened or with their status unknown. until they are 5 months old. gradually destroying the trees in which we But we have some pretty special things live. I’m talking serious trees; big old trees, From my photo you can see my tail going on. For example, did you know with large open hollows. That means trees that right here in Victoria we have is long, black and bushy at the end. about 100 and up to 300 years old. When I get excited, the black silky 40 species of freshwater crayfish and strands on the end of my tail stand And it’s not just the trees we need to 54 freshwater fish species. up making it look like a bottlebrush live in – it’s the ones on the ground too, We also have one of the world’s richest (hence my name). where you find the insects, spiders and collections of ground-dwelling orchids centipedes that we like to eat. One of the problems with being a male with about 420 species. Brush-tailed Phascogale is that I am And it’s not just us phascogales that And what about all of the small species unlikely to live beyond a year. Mind depend on having the right environment that are often overlooked – the likes of you, that year is pretty wild. I devote to survive. The Powerful Owl is in the insects, worms and mosses – but their my whole life to getting as much sex same boat and needs hollows in really ecological importance is immense. as possible, after which time I am so old trees too. There are now fewer than (Heck, I like to eat them. My kids need exhausted, stressed and weak I die. 500 breeding pairs left. this food.) But the other killer problem is a lot Victoria has, I’m sad to say, a pretty poor We need a plan to protect Victoria’s bigger than just me. You see there are record when it comes to species like us. rich range of plants, animals and other

8 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 PHOTO: LYN AND GEOFF EASTO LYN PHOTO:

There are only 500 Powerful Owl breeding pairs left in the wild.

Time for a new Victorian biodiversity strategy

It’s almost 20 years since the last formal Victorian biodiversity strategy, which was prepared under the Kennett Government in 1997. The Brumby Government did produce the Land and biodiversity White Paper: Securing our natural future and a draft strategy before it lost office in 2010, but very little has been done since.

PHOTOS: CHRIS TZAROS PHOTOS: What we now need is a new and reinvigorated vision to protect our natural areas – our biodiversity. In its environment policy before the 2014 state election, the Andrews Government made the following commitments: ‘Labor will review the Flora and Fauna Guarantee creatures and the places they live. It’s Act and institute a statewide biodiversity strategy to protect our habitats for future called protecting biodiversity – that’s a generations’…and…’Labor will also review the new native vegetation regulations so they can sensibly protect sensitive vegetation’. big word for a phascogale. Last year VNPA released a comprehensive assessment, Natural Victoria: It should be the state government’s job Conservation priorities for Victoria’s natural heritage, which outlined what was to create the plan, but frankly, we haven’t required to protect the state’s biodiversity. We did it ourselves because successive seen much action there so far. governments had failed to come up with one. It’s been more than 13 years since the When preparing Natural Victoria we reviewed nine Auditor General Reports last statewide strategy for protecting and two state of the environment reports produced over the past decade. native plants and animals was released. The consistent message from them was a pattern of failures and deficiencies While the new Andrews Government in managing our natural areas, including: has committed to doing a biodiversity y lack of integration of laws, administration, programs and plans strategy, we need to make sure it happens y poor leadership and coordination and provides a real vision for the future. y weak laws and inadequate enforcement So VNPA will do it themselves – if you y low political commitment to the environment help. After all, someone’s got to get the y extremely inadequate funding ball rolling. But it will cost more than y environmental progress made under earlier reforms slowly slipping back. $80,000 to consult with the people of Victoria urgently needs a new strategy for biodiversity protection from the Victoria, take on board comments, hire state government. This should include: experts, put it all together and then y a clear vision and targets for what we want to achieve promote it in the community. y a new state-wide strategy to protect nature within 18 months Then perhaps there will be some y new and stronger laws Brush-tailed Phascogales like me – and y greater funding the other native species I’ve mentioned – y programs to help the community engage with nature, not just plant trees. still around in 20-30 years. • PW

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 9 VNPA NATURE CONSERVATION REVIEW Waterways and wetlands Cattle grazing is damaging the banks of the Goulburn River in Victoria. EVELYN FELLER SUMMARISES THE Limiting stock access to riparian areas is critical to riparian restoration.

FOURTH CHAPTER OF THE VNPA’S NATURE FELLER EVELYN PHOTO: CONSERVATION REVIEW, COVERING VICTORIA’S FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS. fully protected. Heritage rivers are only drainage. Many more have been modified given protection from the construction but there is no recent information about Freshwater values of major dams and not from other the extent of the loss. Because wetland Much of Victoria’s landscape is densely alterations to their flow regimes. protection in Victoria is fragmented and woven with rivers and streams – the often ineffective, there is a great need greatest concentration of waterways on Gaps, priorities and for a comprehensive strategy to set out Australia’s mainland. These freshwater recommendations goals, targets and measures for wetland ecosystems are extraordinarily complex and protection. Environmental flows diverse, and include cold rushing mountain Groundwater streams, warm slow-moving pools in dry Seasonal natural variability causes essential land and subterranean seepages. disturbances in many river ecosystems, for Better management of groundwater is example food distribution, opportunities needed, starting with the systematic Freshwater ecosystems and their interfaces for migration and conditions for assessment of the condition of aquifers, with the land in flood plains and riparian reproduction and recruitment. Natural the nature of links to surface water, and zones are extremely important in maintaining variability has been compromised by flow comprehensive monitoring. Currently water quality, reducing flood impacts and regulation and heavy over-allocation. there is insufficient data and monitoring acting as carbon sinks. Restoration of flooding regimes is essential to determine whether extraction rates are Victoria’s freshwater habitats are known to to the health of floodplain biodiversity, sustainable. Research is needed to address support high species diversity: more than including to the 110 flood-dependent these knowledge gaps. 100 waterbirds, 54 freshwater fish, 38 frogs, ecological classes and almost 200 rare Catchment management and threatened species on the Murray 40 crayfish, an undetermined number of All land use can potentially affect freshwater River in northern Victoria. other invertebrate species, and more than 800 ecosystems and so effective management vascular plants. Nine freshwater complexes Riparian protection and restoration has to be at a catchment scale. Catchment have been recognised as internationally management strategies should guide all significant Ramsar sites, more than 1,300 Riparian areas in Victoria have been extensively degraded with only one-fifth activities in Victoria, whether by private freshwater wetlands are listed as nationally or public land managers, and be based on significant and 18 rivers are designated as of streamside vegetation considered in excellent condition. Reforming ecosystem-based models with clear targets, heritage river areas with significant recreation, indicators and long-term monitoring. conservation and heritage values. management of the 30,000 kilometres of crown water frontages, and limiting stock The Andrews Government committed Threats access to riparian areas, will be critical in to ‘… develop a strategy to improve our Worldwide, freshwater habitats have the restoring riparian health. riparian land and river ways…’ at the highest proportion of threatened plants and Freshwater protected areas November 2014 election. A Regional Riparian Action Plan Advisory Committee animals. In Victoria, more than half of the In the past the conservation reserve system freshwater fish, two-thirds of crayfish and has been established with representatives has been focused primarily on terrestrial from VNPA, Environment Victoria and turtles and a third of frogs are threatened but values; freshwater features have not been few are formally listed. Victoria’s rivers are the Victorian Farmers Federation. An adequately considered. The Victorian additional $10 million was committed chronically overworked and flow regulation Government should create ‘representative has severe impacts on river health, ecological in the recent state budget, which brings rivers’ to protect the best examples of the funding to about $20 million for the first functions and resilience against future state’s many river types. The protection stresses caused by climate change. Many year. While significantly more funding will of highly valued, largely intact freshwater likely be needed, we hope this action plan rivers now have dying trees and drying ecosystems should be optimised by having wetlands, and are full of exotic fish. will put in place a long-term management freshwater ecosystems proclaimed under solution for the 22,000 kilometres of high Existing protection the Reference Areas Act 1978. conservation significance crown land Because the past protection system has Wetlands water frontages across the state. • PW focused on terrestrial values, freshwater In 1994 it was estimated that about For more details, see www.vnpa.org.au/page/ ecosystems have only been protected one quarter of Victoria’s wetlands had publications/nature-conservation-review/ incidentally – even Ramsar wetlands are not been destroyed, mainly through their nature-conservation-review-2014

10 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 Alpine grazing ban sealed!

THE FRAUGHT ISSUE OF CATTLE GRAZING IN THE ALPINE NATIONAL PARK HAS TAKEN FAR TOO LONG TO RESOLVE, WRITES VNPA CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS. PHOTO: PHIL INGAMELLS PHOTO:

There is probably no other issue in the history of Victoria that could, for so SYMPOSIUM: managing climate impacts many years, defy the overwhelming The VNPA, in association with Melbourne pathways supported by science that can evidence of hundreds of published University, the Royal Society of Victoria and minimise those impacts. scientific studies and multiple the Department of Environment, Land, investigations. It seems that unlimited Water and Planning, will hold a symposium We expect the symposium will be of chutzpah, cloaked in a Driza-bone later this year on Managing Victoria’s considerable interest to Victoria’s land and an Akubra hat, can routinely Biodiversity under Climate Change. managers and policy developers, as override truth. well as the scientific community and The aim of the symposium is to establish environmental NGOs. But on 5 May 2015, definitive likely climate change impacts on legislation was finally passed in the Victoria’s terrestrial ecosystems, including The symposium is planned for 8–9 October Upper House of Victoria’s parliament. coastal areas, and to identify practical 2015. Further information, including booking Now, no future government can management actions and adaptation procedures, will be available in due course. introduce cattle into the Alpine National Park under the guise on failed grazing and fire research. of a purported ‘scientific study’, If that money was spent on identified ‘management practice’ or whatever. park management priorities, such as deer, feral horse or weed invasions, Bizarrely, given the cattlemen’s long we could have been making some real history of disregarding scientific progress by now. research, they have been saying that the legislation is ‘anti-science’, When the legislation went to the and no more research can ever be Victorian Parliament’s Upper House, the Ecotours and walking done on cattle grazing’s impact on Legislative Council, it was passed by just in the High Country, bushfires. But research can still be one vote! The Liberal Party, the Nationals, East Gippsland and beyond conducted (and always could have the Shooters and Fishers Party and Vote 1 been conducted) outside the Alpine Local Jobs all voted against the bill. Are you curious about the natural world? National Park. And as for the previous If so, how about immersing yourself in government’s Wonnangatta Valley We thank Environment Minister Lisa nature and letting us share our love and knowledge of the environment with you. grazing research program, its design Neville and her government for their and implementation were canned by work in introducing the legislation, and Let us arrange the accommodation, both the Royal Society of Victoria and the Victorian Greens, the Democratic the driving, the walks and talks. the Australian Academy of Science. Even your meals appear like magic. Labour Party and the Australian Sex Enjoy the companionship of like-minded Spending taxpayer’s money on a trial Party for their crucial votes in support. nature lovers and return home refreshed, with no capacity for valid results informed and invigorated. would have been a great waste We also thank all of our supporters and of resources. encouragers, without whom there would For full details of the current program visit the website or contact Jenny be cattle in the park today. And we Before Alpine National Park grazing thank Victoria’s scientific community, Gippsland High Country Tours licences ended in 2005, managing especially those alpine ecologists who Phone (03) 5157 5556 the licences cost Victorians around have acted with great integrity despite $500,000 annually. And since then the repeated attempts to discredit them and Email: [email protected] www.gippslandhighcountrytours.com.au Australian and Victorian governments, their work. in attempts to re-introduce cattle to Advanced Ecotourism Certification. Est. 1987 the park, allocated at least $4.5 million It’s time to move on. • PW

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 11 Property developers undermining conservation

INTERFERENCE BY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS IN MELBOURNE’S GROWTH PLANNING PROCESS IS WHITE-ANTING CONSERVATION OUTCOMES.

Melbourne’s population in 2051 is outside the growth areas. There The rush to lock down so many of the projected to be 7.7 million, a 75% were also significant reductions in precinct plans is of concern, especially increase on existing numbers. That protection for high conservation areas without a pressing need for most of them: means many more homes (up to between the draft and final approved sales within the existing subdivisions on 700,000 by 2031), roads and urban plans. For example, in the South Melbourne’s fringes have slowed right infrastructure and, if not planned East a total of 388 hectares or 54 per down. Many of the emerging problems right, far fewer wildlife habitats. cent of the original conservation will need revisiting, or at the very least areas for Growling Grass Frogs were review, prior to implementation of the To plan for this growth, four new deleted, along with significant areas of precinct plans. Urban Growth Areas were established Southern Brown Bandicoot corridors. and Melbourne’s Urban Growth Back-to-front planning Boundary expanded by 30,000 The property industry appears still hectares in 2009. Four years later the dissatisfied and is continuing to Various government agencies have Victorian government transformed undermine conservation outcomes. confirmed that the precinct plans are the Growth Areas Authority into the For example, a submission from running ahead of other government Metropolitan Planning Authority, the Urban Development Institute processes, leading to inconsistencies and which now focusses on growth in seven of Australia and Property Council the dilution of conservation outcomes. municipalities within the expanded of Victoria to the Department of Some precincts, for example, are yet to Urban Growth Boundary: Wyndham, Environment, Land, Water and have their Melbourne Water drainage Melton, Hume, Mitchell, Whittlesea, Planning (DELWP) requested a schemes finalised prior to the plan’s Cardinia and Casey (see map). copy of departmental guidelines release for public comment e.g. English for changing conservation area Street Precinct, Donnybrook, in the North Melbourne’s Urban Growth Zones boundaries ‘…ASAP for consultation Growth Corridor. In another case, part of cover some of Victoria’s most before they are confirmed by an expanded sewage treatment complex endangered habitats, including the DELWP’. Environment groups is planned inside a conservation area in ‘critically endangered’ grasslands and have not yet been given the same the Northern Quarries Precinct Structure grassy woodlands, and the living spaces opportunity. Plan, north of Epping. for a raft of threatened species such as the Growling Grass Frog, Southern The process rolls on with reduced DELWP is developing a master plan for Brown Bandicoot and Golden conservation outcomes at every stage. the Growling Grass Frog that will identify Sun Moth. VNPA's focus now, along with local hundreds of new artificial wetlands to conservation groups, is on the next compensate for the large areas of the The Melbourne Strategic Assessment, stage. Precinct Structure Planning: frog’s habitat to be cleared. The master a joint Commonwealth-State the preparation of master plans for plan is not due for at least 6 months but approval process, was begun in 2009 communities of 10,000 to 30,000 urban wetlands and water infrastructure and aimed to assess the potential people and the last step before new are already being built within the frog’s impact of the new Urban Growth planning zones and development conservation corridors. Zones on key conservation areas and permits are issued for the new suburbs. species, produce better outcomes for Protections for conservation biodiversity protection and streamline Rushed precinct planning areas eroded approvals for development. The last part of this assessment was signed In a mad rush, 80 Precinct Structure The protections for 36 conservation areas off by the Australian Government in Plans have either been completed, defined by the Federal-Government- August 2014. commenced or are at the pre- endorsed Biodiversity Conservation planning stage. Emerging issues are Strategy for the Urban Growth Zones are This complicated and sometimes being inadequately addressed and under threat. frustrating process appears to have exacerbated by this fast-tracking been a bonanza for property developers and pressure from the property TheGuidance note: Implementing the but not so for wildlife. It will see almost development industry, which appears Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for 4,000 hectares of critically endangered intent on undermining the modest Melbourne’s growth corridors (DELWP grasslands cleared and offset into yet- conservation outcomes enshrined in February 2015) aims to guide future to-be established grassland reserves the Melbourne Strategic Assessment. conservation area management but is

12 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 Mitchell

Hume skewed towards allowing a variety of uses within conservation areas under Whittlesea an unclear decision making process. Melton GROWLING GRASS FROG Approvals under national > Inadequate habitat, all areas environmental laws should lead to better conservation outcomes, but these outcomes appear to be continuously undermined. For example, DELWP developed proposed Special Use Zones to apply Melbourne to the different types of conservation Wyndham areas. These zones were to replace other SEASONAL WETLANDS > Inadequate protection, all areas protections, such as Environmental Significance Overlays, that cover a much wider set of important issues. After environment group objections to the use of these zones, a Rural Conservation Zone has been proposed Cardinia NATIVE GRASSLANDS Port Phillip Bay and an Integrated Plan Overlay applied, > Inadequate protection Casey but the Environmental Significance Overlays will still be removed. It is unclear how this will protect the Urbanised Area conservation areas. Urban Growth Zone Urban Growth Boundary Many of the provisions about the final Freeways tenure and management arrangements for proposed conservation areas are also unclear. Agencies such as Parks Victoria and local municipalities seem unwilling or unable to manage them and there is a lack of opportunity to add to or expand them. SOUTHERN BROWN BANDICOOT > Inadequate habitat corridors The precinct planning process views the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy’s conservation areas as the only ones The southern brown bandicoot could have its day in court required, focussing on nationally listed species and ignoring consideration of As urbanisation has proceeded and the $30 million initially provided for state, regional or local conservation through the south-eastern suburbs the corridors had been reallocated. of Melbourne, the Southern Brown assets. Finer-scale planning should be Protecting the southern brown Bandicoot species has progressively used to add to the conservation areas bandicoot from extinction in the declined towards extinction. by creating habitat links and other South East has been complicated by natural spaces. The last large population, living in the federal proposal to de-list the Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens, is species from the EPBC Act. Fortunately, Failure to appoint an now threatened by development that independent scientists and the Victorian State Government oppose Independent Monitor will destroy the habitat corridors linking the delisting. If the bandicoot was them with other populations. The More than five years after the de-listed, whether or not legal action is Commonwealth Government approved commencement of the growth area successful, the State Government could the development, so the Green Wedges assessment process, a monitoring attempt to get out of its obligations to Coalition lodged an appeal with the and reporting framework is yet to provide the $30 million or the less- Federal Court for review of this decision, than-adequate wildlife corridors that be approved. Nor has there been the represented by Environment Justice were included in the final approved appointment of the independent Australia and supported by VNPA. monitor required to ensure integrity drafts last year. The final decision will in the assessment and implementation The main concern is that the approval be made by the Federal Minister, Greg of the growth planning process. VNPA did not provide for the functional Hunt, based on recommendations of the Threatened Species Committee. has outlined the independent monitor’s habitat connectivity corridors required key roles and responsibilities and is to avoid species extinction. Corridors If the case succeeds, it could make the urging both levels of government to 200m wide that had been provided difference between the extinction and immediately act on the appointment in the first draft of the Sub Regional survival of this endangered species in before we slide, inch by inch, into a Species Strategy had been removed, south-east Melbourne. concrete jungle. • PW

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 13 Holden Flora Reserve runs along the Jacksons Creek and is a refuge for wildlife in the developing Melbourne suburbs of Sunbury and Diggers Rest.

Melbourne’s or restricted ones ‘other river’, the such as the Red- Maribyrnong, is bellied Black fed by a number Snake, Lowland of creeks. Copperhead, Marbled Gecko Of these, the main and Tree Dragon. tributary, Jacksons Creek, rises in the Rare or restricted Macedon Ranges and birds include then slices through Southern Whiteface, the Western Volcanic Spiny-cheeked Plains where it has Honeyeater, Singing created spectacular Honeyeater, escarpments and Diamond Firetail, revealed remarkable Peregrine Falcon, rock formations in Calamanthus, and the Organ Pipes Pied Currawong. National Park. A ROAD RUNNING THROUGH IT? Wedge-tailed Eagles breed there, and A little upstream, as Barn Owls are though practicing A PROPOSED ROAD WOULD DEVASTATE THE HOLDEN FLORA known from the for the sculpting of RESERVE AT SUNBURY, REPORTS CHRISTINA CHEERS. reserve. these landforms, CHRISTINA CHEERS PHOTO: the creek has carved Jacksons Creek out smaller rocky is also important escarpments in what is known as Holden Flora Reserve, habitat for Platypus (five were found in a recent between the townships of Sunbury and Diggers Rest. survey), Growling Grass Frog and Lesueur’s Frog, all of them regionally rare and threatened. Holden Flora Reserve was declared in 1987 with the aim of protecting remnant native flora and fauna. It The Holden Flora Reserve has a strong Aboriginal is cared for by Parks Victoria and has been assigned history, being on the border of two clans. It also shows IUCN Category 1a, which means its 96 hectares are signs of early European use, with the bluestone ruins of to be managed primarily to protect and preserve an old inn and the remains of a water pump and boiler natural features including the escarpments and house associated with the Sunbury Asylum. Add to all beautiful deep gorges. of this the wonderfully isolated and almost mystical atmosphere of the place, and it becomes very precious. The escarpments have sheltered the last-known Victorian breeding colonies of Grassland Earless Friends of Holden Reserve was formed in 2009 and, Dragons, although proof that these quaint little lizards since then, has helped Parks Victoria’s management are present awaits further research. What we do know by planting more than 6,000 indigenous plants to to be there though, is well worth preserving. replace woody weeds removed by Melbourne Water. The plantings have attracted enthusiastic community Stretching along a thin line to the west of the Jacksons support, but sadly the area is now threatened by Creek, the reserve represents the only area in the lower development. Maribyrnong-Jacksons catchment that retains a sizable remnant of the original vegetation, and has been the Holden Flora Reserve is particularly vulnerable to edge main plant source used to revegetate the Organ Pipes effects because of its long and narrow shape within National Park over the past 40 years. a developing urban area. There is now a proposal to build a road through its very centre, which will The reserve’s vegetation contains three communities threaten still further the reserve’s remnant species of (Grassy Woodland, Temperate Grassland and Rocky flora and fauna. Chenopod Open-scrub) that are listed as critically endangered; there are also flora species classified as Proper environmental surveys are needed, lest we lose rare, threatened or significant in the Melbourne area. it before we even know what we have. Better still, we should protect it altogether. PW Many species of national significance are also present, • and possibly the Grassland Earless Dragon, along with Christina Cheers is President of the Jacksons Creek 25 species of reptiles including regionally threatened Eco Network.

14 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 Burning native forests is NOT renewable energy

The logging industry, supported by the Federal Government, wants the burning of ‘wood waste’ from logged native forests to be included as a renewable energy source in the Renewable Energy Target (RET). There are five major reasons why this should be opposed. 1. The biomass used will not really be ‘wood waste’ as maintained by the logging industry The industry will use whole trees as its primary fuel for biomass power, rather than offcuts and residues from the forest floor. Gathering and transporting residues from a logged forest is not practical or economically viable. The logging industry claimed 50 years ago when woodchipping was introduced that it would only take waste branches and other logging residues. In fact, whole trees up to 600 years old (radio-carbon dated in East Gippsland) have been felled and sent to JILL REDWOOD CARTOON: the chipper. They do not use wood waste (branches and residues) as it is not economic, and always clear-fell entire forest coupes and take whole trees. This would continue if native hardwood became part of the RET. Current management practices have 3. Forest destruction will inevitably 5. Allowing credit for burning forests had devastating environmental impacts. increase if native forest wood reduces and displaces investment in Native forests have been converted into is included in the RET as an genuine renewable energy monocultures of even-aged eucalypt species. accredited fuel Real renewable energy comes from hydro, Intensive logging has meant that millions of Using native forest wood as a fuel wind and solar power. Our future depends birds and animals are killed every year as a for biomass power is extremely upon transitioning to genuine renewable result of habitat loss. Leadbeater's Possum is inefficient; a lot of wood is needed to energy sources if we are to survive as a now critically endangered as a consequence make a small amount of electricity. society into the future. of industrial logging and fire. Clearfelling It is clear there will be increased also causes a reduction in water yields and What you can do pressure on native forests to provide leads to soil erosion. this fuel. Please contact your local MPs, the Federal 2. Burning wood produces at least Opposition and the cross-bench senators 4. There will be increased subsidies 1.5 times, and up to 6 times, and inform them you are totally opposed to for an industry already heavily as much CO2 as burning coal the burning of native forest hardwood to be subsidised by taxpayers included as a renewable energy source in the The aim of the RET is to reduce the total State and federal governments RET. Allowing burning of native hardwood output of CO2 pollution. Burning the planet's have spent hundreds of millions of ‘biomass’ to be included will displace genuine most effective carbon capture and storage dollars propping up the logging and renewable energy sources such as wind and mechanisms i.e. native forests is completely at woodchipping industry. It seems solar, will actually increase CO2 production odds with reducing greenhouse gases. to be a protected species to which and also allow the overcutting of native forests Moreover, the logging industry has never traditional economics does not apply. to continue. You might also state that you no been required to account for its total carbon We have in effect been subsidising longer want your taxes used to subsidise the footprint. This would require an accurate the destruction of our native forests ongoing destruction of native forests, and that carbon accounting for all stages involved with for more than 50 years. There is no you want any future funding to the industry felling and transporting logs, processing, the indication that a native forest biomass to enable a switch to 100% plantation use for intensely hot regeneration burn, and the loss of industry would be viable without our future timber needs. • PW soil carbon. The industry has failed to do this. government support. John Renowden is a long-running forest activist.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 15 A small swamp full of life

GEOFF LACEY REPORTS ON HIS VISITS TO LINLEY’S SWAMP ON

FRENCH ISLAND. GEOFF LACEY PHOTO: White Ibis, Royal Spoonbills and Black Swans gather to feed in Linley’s Swamp.

French Island is home to many and shelter, attracted to large sheets …and under low water wetlands. of water with a clear view of distant In April 2013 the swamp was drying approaching raptors and other potential Some of the larger wetlands are out, creating good foraging habitat threats. Waders (or shorebirds) prefer surrounded by a thicket of Swamp for small waders. Seven Red-kneed shallow water with an open aspect and Paperbark and hold water for a long time. exposed mud. Dotterels, a species rare on the island, Linley’s Swamp is different. It is only were observed and had been breeding 2.5 hectares in area, has an open aspect, Linley’s Swamp under high water there. Five Black-fronted Dotterels were also running around and feeding on the is shallow and dries out frequently. While Linley’s Swamp is an excellent example most of the island’s wetlands are inside muddy edges, and eight Greenshanks of a shallow, saline wetland that (a migratory wader species) flew in French Island National Park, this one is frequently dries out and refills. It is on private land along the west coast. from the bay and landed. The nearby surrounded mainly by grassy paddocks intertidal mudflats are where they feed at Although small and relatively but with two patches of Swamp low tide but when the swamp is shallow unprotected, Linley’s Swamp is of Paperbark along parts of its eastern and its mud exposed, the birds come in unusual importance for birdlife on margin, heathland on the southern for shelter and extra feeding as high tide the island. margin and Messmate Woodland approaches. The bird count on that flanking the northwest corner. day included 42 Masked Lapwings, Water cycles, surrounding When the swamp is full, lush water 20 White-faced Herons, 18 White Ibises, habitat and birds plants, in particular Water Ribbons and 34 Royal Spoonbills, 16 Swamphens The cycles of wetting and drying Pale Rush, give the swamp a beautiful and a Whistling Kite. are an important factor in wetland appearance. In August 2004, Black- productivity. When a swamp dries out winged Stilts, uncommon on French An uncertain future the water plants die off, decompose Island, were breeding there: 80 birds, The French Island wetlands complement in the presence of oxygen and release including young. Ducks swimming each other. Birds move between them nutrients into the soil. around included seven Shovelers. In and the bay to best meet their feeding, April 2012, the count included 105 When it floods again the nutrients shelter and safety requirements. White Ibis and 34 Royal Spoonbills, with stimulate a rapid growth of large water four Whistling Kites circling nearby. Linley’s Swamp is a vital link in this plants, like sedges and rushes. These chain, a shallow and seasonal wetland plants provide excellent habitat and When the swamp was half full, in that is highly productive and supports a some food for birds. There is also March 2014, groups of ducks arrived rich birdlife. But its future is uncertain. an abundance of invertebrates (like at intervals throughout our visit – midges, worms and crustaceans) that about 60 Chestnut Teal and 170 Grey A few years ago, Parks Victoria was feed on the decayed organic matter. Teal by the time we left. They were hoping to buy the wetland but funds Large numbers of waterbirds come to apparently moving in from the bay as for such purchases were suspended. feast on them. high tide made feeding opportunities It came under new ownership in 2014. more favourable in the swamp. We also If it could be added to the French Island The habitat surrounding a wetland is observed a Black-tailed Native-hen, a National Park, the swamp’s future also important in determining when rare visitor. would be secure. • PW birds will be attracted to it. Linley’s Swamp does not have the dense cover A surprise awaited us in September Geoff Lacey is an environmental engineer, that ducks and other waterbirds need 2014, a pair of Freckled Ducks – a rare naturalist and long-standing member for sustained breeding. However, many and endangered species – sheltering of the VNPA and the Friends of birds come there for feeding, roosting among the flooded paperbarks. French Island.

16 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 2014 Feral cat trapping program

Catching cats French Island Marine National Park on French Island

JENNY NORVICK EXPLAINS WHY A FERAL CAT TRAPPING PROGRAM HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL ON FRENCH ISLAND IN WESTERN PORT.

Two-thirds of French Island is VICTORIA PARKS MAP: national park, the other third Cats were trapped over most of French Island in 2014. Cats = 0 mainly farmland. With its extensive A total of 54 cats were trapped and comprised trapped = 1 shoreline, its swamps and lagoons, 14 black, 13 ginger, 26 tabby and one tortoise shell. = 2 and a marine national park along its = 3 northern coast, it is a critical part of the Western Port Ramsar wetlands. More than 230 species of birds have been recorded at the island, Parks Victoria was funded to control parks ranger. Animal ethics including rare species and 33 species goats and weeds in the national park requirements are adhered to and of waders. and surrounds, and to intensify its feral great care is taken not to distress the cat trapping activity. The long-term trapped animals. The island is fortunately fox-free but goal is to eradicate feral cats its shorebird populations, migratory from French Island. In 2012 the French Island Landcare ground birds and other native wildlife, Group joined the program and such as the Long-nosed Potoroo, are Trapping takes place seven days a week extended cat control onto private at constant risk of predation by a large for ten weeks, from June to August each land, with the result that an extra population of feral cats. Over the year. The winter months are chosen 207 feral cats have been dispatched years Parks Victoria has run feral cat because the small mammals, birds, over the last two and a half years. control programs but none with the reptiles and invertebrates on which the The Landcare Group also offers free success achieved over the past cats usually prey are scarce. The cats cat desexing as part of its public five years. become cold and hungry and therefore education program. more likely to take risks, resulting in With an injection of money that greater trapping success. One of the main ongoing issues in started in 2010, Parks Victoria has managing feral cat populations on been able to conduct a comprehensive About 100 custom-built galvanised French Island is landowners who trapping program each winter in the steel treadle cage traps baited with fresh support domestic feral populations on national park and surrounds, and Kentucky Fried Chicken are used to their farms. The descendants of these from 2010 to 2014 it trapped and catch the cats. The traps are set where animals eventually end up inhabiting removed 624 cats. cats have been seen recently – areas the national park. containing fresh scats, roadsides, tracks, The program was part of a larger one fence lines, creek lines, shorelines, high- Over the last five years 831 feral cats covering the Western Port Ramsar tide roosts in saltmarsh, unoccupied have been removed from French sites and the western shoreline of dwellings and the interface between Island under the two programs. This, Port Phillip. Funded for three years cleared land and the bush. The cages in conjunction with the community under the Australian Government’s are placed approximately 500-1,000 awareness program and free cat Caring for our Country Program, and metres apart, and multiple traps are desexing, has seen a huge reduction in administered by the local catchment used where, for example, kittens have the overall feral cat population. management authority, its aim was to been seen. Every trap is checked daily reduce the threats to the sites posed and the baits are kept fresh. There are already promising signs by feral animals and weeds, and to that the population densities of local provide community education. The All the cats that are trapped are taken wildlife are increasing. • PW National Landcare Program has to the parks depot to be euthanised by continued the funding until 2018. a trained, qualified and experienced Jenny Norvick is a VNPA member.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 17 Canal estate threat to coastal wetlands

There were once mudflats and saltmarsh along the southern shoreline of Corio Bay at Moolap between Point Henry and Limeburners Point. PHOTO: TONY WOOLFORD TONY PHOTO: But in the mid-1800s the area was The Moolap saltpans near Geelong are threatened by a proposed canal estate and marina development. transformed into an extensive system of shallow lagoons to produce salt, first by the Cheetham Saltworks and more fields are recognised in the region’s The draft Victorian Coastal Strategy also recently by the Ridley Corporation, Ramsar management plan as having contained a recommendation against any although salt production became non- Ramsar values. new canal estates because of their impacts on viable and has ceased. estuaries, habitat loss, water pollution from For more than 30 years the Geelong urban runoff and boating, and the disturbance The site is now set for another Field Naturalists have conducted of coastal acid sulphate soils. However, transformation if the Ridley annual surveys of the birdlife and Corporation’s plans for the 209 ecology of the area. On average, more apparently, the direct intervention of Premier hectares of coastal crown land, which than 68 bird species use it each year, Napthine just prior to the release of the final it currently leases, are given the go- including three threatened species strategy in late 2014 led to the recommendation’s ahead. This time the salt fields would and 22 shorebird species protected by removal from the final strategy. be replaced by a $4 billion marina international treaties. Geelong Environment Council and the and housing development, with 1,200 Environmental concerns with the Queenscliffe Environment Forum have berths, up to 5,000 homes, a golf course project include: proposed to environment minister Lisa and a canal estate. Neville that a VEAC investigation be • the loss of significant coastal Under the proposal, the corporation conducted into the 19 wetlands on the habitats and its impact on wildlife would get possession of the crown land Bellarine Peninsula, including the Moolap and another coastal strip, for which it • the massive dredging program salt fields, with a view to creating a Victorian had been negotiating with the previous that would be required to nature conservation reserve containing all Coalition Government under a process produce the fill needed for the the wetlands. Before the investigation begins, titled an ‘Unsolicited Proposal, whereby new development. Limeburners any negotiations between the Victorian the crown land would be swapped Bay, from where the dredge spoil Government and the Ridley Corporation on for some much less environmentally would come, has very significant the Moolap saltfields should cease, and the valuable Ridley land at Avalon. lead levels on its seabed (from government commit to retaining the land in ammunition fired into the bay from public ownership for conservation. This process had proceeded to the third a shooting range at Limeburners The nature conservation reserve would ensure stage of five, in which the corporation Point), together with many other that the Bellarine wetlands are protected and was in exclusive negotiation with the heavy metals from earlier industrial conserved at this time of high population government to develop the proposal; an development. Dredging would growth and climate uncertainty. Consistent agreement on the land swap was signed activate these and also disturb acid management, taking into account the many just prior to the caretaker period for the sulphate soils, which the Victorian environmental values in each water body, November 2014 state election. Coastal Strategy recommends being left alone would ensure that the area continues to The Moolap salt fields and Ramsar sites supply habitat to the thousands of migratory on Corio Bay and associated wetlands • the Victorian Coastal Strategy waders that make their remarkable journey are home to 20,000 birds each summer, also recommends avoiding coastal here each summer. • PW and provide a vital habitat for species development in areas that will be that have migrated here from as far as inundated by a 0.8m sea level rise Joan Lindros is president of the Geelong Siberia and the Arctic. Although not by 2100; most of this land will be Environment Council and a member of the listed under the Ramsar treaty, the salt so affected. VNPA Conservation Committee.

18 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 In some ecosystems, like this box woodland, long-unburnt areas can have less fuel than recently burnt areas.

Burn target gets the thumbs down

AN INVESTIGATION RECOMMENDS VICTORIA'S FUEL REDUCTION BURN PROGRAM SHOULD MOVE AWAY FROM A 5% STATEWIDE HECTARE TARGET TOWARDS A RISK-BASED APPROACH. IT'S A VERY WELCOME

STEP, SAYS PHIL INGAMELLS. PHIL INGAMELLS PHOTO:

The Victorian Bushfires Royal Another problem with the annual target Commission’s most controversial was that it encouraged prescribed burns recommendation, to burn 5% of public in larger remote areas, where they were land each year for fuel reduction, relatively easy to perform and chalked may no longer be a frontline policy up lots of hectares. A former director of bushfire management. of the US forest fire service called this the ‘low-hanging fruit’. Many smaller Earlier this year the Victorian but far more effective burns around Government asked the Inspector townships just weren’t being done. They General for Emergency Management to CHRIS TZAROS PHOTO: are expensive, and involve lots of staff conduct an inquiry into the target. He but contribute little to the target. Recent research shows that the Mallee Emu Wren has clearly recommended a move to a depends primarily on long-unburnt vegetation. ‘risk-based’ management of fire. The Mallee was the greatest victim here, If the Government accepts the suffering many damaging burns with gave no indication of how that risk recommendation, it could mean a little or no advantage to public safety. would be managed! radical change in bushfire management. Species dependent on long-unburnt bush, such as the Mallee Emu Wren, Our top ecologists, as well as many well- While debates on where, when and how are being pushed to the brink. informed amateur naturalists across to burn the bush will be had for many the state, are convinced that burning years to come, Victoria's land managers The unprecedented increase in at current rates is no way to manage could now be free to make decisions prescribed fire right across Victoria, on natural areas. It’s been an unprecedented strategically, without having to achieve top of a number of recent large bushfires ecological experiment conducted at a at least 390,000 hectares of burns every attributed to climate change, mean landscape scale – something that would year regardless of their effect. Victoria’s remaining natural areas have not remotely pass ethical standards for There have been many problems with the few long-unburnt bits left. The impacts scientific studies, anywhere. 5% target. For a start, and perhaps most of this are still being debated and importantly, the controversy it generated studied, but there is general agreement Protecting human life is a critical job encouraged some of its supporters to that many of Victoria’s native plants for our fire managers. But protection of make extravagant claims about the and animals are in trouble if we mainly Victoria’s remarkable natural heritage is capacity of the fuel reduction program have young ‘age classes’ of vegetation. also something that should be achieved. to save lives. Fuel reduction burning can And once we lose an old patch of an A new risk-based approach will be able certainly be a useful tool, but it is least ecosystem, it can take decades, or even to look at all available fire mitigation and effective in severe fire weather conditions, hundreds of years, to recover it. public safety tools and allow managers when lives are most at risk. In last year’s report on the impacts to work out how they should be applied The public perception, however, was of the burn program on Victoria’s in different places. It will allow for far that the fuel reduction program would biodiversity, the environment more effective use of fire budgets and somehow save them from the next department (then called DEPI) resources. It should, and can, aim to megafire, leaving them less likely to confessed that protection of protect human life as well as allow the invest in seriously effective options, biodiversity ‘…has not been achieved long-term survival of the bush and its such as a good bushfire shelter at home. but is a manageable risk’, however DEPI many remarkable inhabitants. • PW

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 19 IN PARKS

Walking through wildflowers near the summit of Mt Erica.

sedimentary rocks of the heritage-listed Thomson and Aberfeldy rivers to the east, adjacent to which is the 2,660 hectare Walhalla Historic Area Park. The parks are surrounded by State Forest, which extends in a wedge from the north between the two sections. Clear felling of Mountain and Alpine Ash is continuing in the forest with post-logging hot regeneration slash burns. The plateau is an area of national botanical, zoological, geological and Baw Baw geomorphological significance. It is within the Thomson, Tanjil and Tyers water supply catchments. The highest National Park peak is Mt St Phillack at 1,567 metres (Mt Buffalo National Park’s highest peak, The Horn, is 1,723 metres). PHOTO: ROBYN DURHAM ROBYN PHOTO: Picnic area in snow gum at the Baw Baw Alpine Resort. There are more than 400 native vascular flora species in the park, GEOFF DURHAM VISITS ONE OF THE NATIONAL PARKS including 46 that are rare or threatened THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE PROPOSED GREAT FOREST NATIONAL PARK. and one endemic, the Baw Baw Snow- gentian. The non-vascular flora was surveyed by the late Arthur Thies, well VNPA and other conservation groups Committee of Management from known to VNPA members, who listed are advocating the creation of the Great 1964 until 1979, when 13,300 hectares more than 70 mosses and 41 liverworts. Forest National Park, which would became the initial Baw Baw National The park is also of global zoological protect 355,000 hectares of land across Park. Land Conservation Council 1994 significance, with 16 threatened species the Central Highlands, stretching from Recommendations resulted in the including the critically endangered Baw Kinglake to the Thomson Reservoir park’s area being increased by a further Baw Frog and Leadbeater's Possum. and north-east to Eildon, incorporating 230 hectares. The 2005 Management Most of the plateau is a 6,500-hectare some State Forests and existing parks, Plan, with a life-span of 10 years, is Remote and Natural Area (including including Baw Baw National Park. to be replaced by a Greater Alpine a 135-hectare Reference Area), National Park Management Plan for all with Snow Gum woodlands, grassy This is Gunaikurnai country and the alpine parks. The planning process is herblands, heathlands and Sphagnum name, Baw Baw, possibly means ‘echo’. now being reviewed after the election Moss bogs. In 1860 the intrepid Ferdinand van of the Andrews Government. Mueller was the first European to reach In 1970 a proposal for a road across the Mt Baw Baw summit. The park is in two distinct sections the Baw Baw Plateau was abandoned – the granitic sub-alpine Baw Baw after much protest. Forestry ceased in The Baw Baw Plateau was managed Plateau to the west and the much the 1950s and grazing ended in 1975, for the Forests Commission by a older dissected Silurian-Devonian but some feral cattle remained on the

20 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 PHOTO: EUAN MOORE EUAN PHOTO: GEOFF DURHAM PHOTO: PHOTO: GEOFF DURHAM PHOTO: Aberfeldy River camping area. The aftermath of a hot, regeneration slash and burn post logging.

plateau and it was years before the last The 650-kilometre Australian Alps Willows and Blackberry, and track animal was dispatched. Much effort went Walking Track between Canberra and maintenance. The contact is Eileen into their eradication, but no attempt Walhalla passes from Stronachs, a small Laidlaw Phone: 5160 1312. has been made to remove Sambar Deer walkers-only camp site on the northern from the plateau. There are also rabbits, tip of the park, south-east down the Access foxes, wild dogs and cats; Blackberry is a centre of the park over Mt Whitelaw, The Alpine Resort is accessed via Noojee widespread weed. Mt St Phillack and Mt Erica (with and Tanjil Bren. The bitumen Alpine camping, rock climbing and abseiling On the western edge of the plateau the Resort Road from Tanjil Bren is steep, at the nearby Mushroom Rocks) to the narrow and winding with hairpin bends. 365-hectare Baw Baw Alpine Resort is not walkers-only Eastern Tyers camping part of the national park. Its limited snow area off the South Face Road, and The South Face Road through State is enhanced by artificial snow making. then onto Walhalla, crossing over the Forest between the Baw Baw Alpine Stuart Ord, a former Chief Executive heritage-listed, old-iron Tramway Resort Road and the Thomson Valley Officer of the resort, says that, being at a Bridge across the Thomson River. There Road has a wide gravel surface. lower elevation than the larger Victorian are off-shoot tracks to Mt Baw Baw and resorts, it is more susceptible to climate on to the Alpine Resort, and to Mt St The Thomson Valley Road from Erica change through shorter snow seasons. Gwinear and on to the Mt St Gwinear passes approximately north between the This makes the development of ‘green- car park and visitor centre – a base park’s two sections and then north-west season’, nature-based activities in and for walking, cross-country skiing and through Sate Forest to the northern around the resort highly important. One tobogganing. The volunteer St Gwinear end of the park. Turn-off roads lead to of these is downhill mountain biking. Ski Patrol operates on weekends in the Rawson, Walhalla, the Mt Erica car park The eastern section on sedimentary snow season. From here a short track and picnic area, the Thomson Reservoir, rocks, in a rain shadow area and zoned leads to a viewing platform. and to the Mt St Gwinear car park and Conservation and Recreation, lacks the visitor centre. There are also cross-country ski trails towering Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash at the Alpine Resort where there are The very narrow and rocky Walhalla forests of the western section. downhill ski runs with lifts. ‘Road’ in the east is the access route to Natural attractions the beautifully sited Aberfeldy River In the park’s eastern section, the Camping Area. ‘Spectacular wildflower displays’ is hunting of Sambar Deer by stalking the phrase commonly used when is permitted, while canoeing and Before visiting Baw Baw National referring to the park, as these are a white-water rafting are possible on Park, check the Parks Victoria website feature in summer on the plateau, but the Thomson River from Beardmores regarding track conditions. Chains are Snow Gums and Mountain Ash in mist below the Thomson Reservoir. There required in the snow season. or snow have a special charm any time are tracks for four-wheel driving, of the year. Lyrebirds are common in the and cycling and trail-bike riding are Camping and accommodation tree-fern gullies. From the Mount Erica permitted on all public vehicle tracks. The only vehicle-based camping in car park, there is a 30-minute return the park is at the Aberfeldy River Friends of Baw Baw Beech Gully walk. Camping Area. Disbursed bush and The Friends of Baw Baw National snow camping by walkers is permitted. An adventurer’s national park Park formed in 1980, was revived in Accommodation outside the park is In 1980 Dr Sandra Bardwell wrote: 1994 and has been active ever since available at the Baw Baw Alpine Resort, ‘Baw Baw is undoubtedly an adventurer’s with nature walks and many projects Tanjil Bren, Noojee, Rawson, Walhalla national park’. including removal of Grey-sallow and Erica. • PW

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 21 Albus the Bandicoot Bodyguard in training.

Zoo working to save local wildlife

BROOKE SQUIRES REPORTS ON THREATENED SPECIES CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AT ZOOS VICTORIA. PHOTO: VICTORIA ZOOS PHOTO: Securing futures for threatened species Bandicoots and guardian dogs, frogs and bunkers; these are unusual combinations. But they’re all about how Zoos Victoria, a zoo-based conservation organisation, is delivering conservation outcomes for 20 threatened native species. This commitment was sparked by the extinction of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle, a micro bat. In 2009, Zoos Victoria staff were given a simple brief: collect the last remaining pipistrelles to establish a captive insurance population. But it was too late, none could be found, and

the microbat joined 26 other Australian VICTORIA ZOOS PHOTO: mammal species that have become Eastern barred bandicoots like these will be guarded by maremma dogs without the use of fox-proof fencing. extinct since colonisation. Zoos Victoria decided then that it remarkable partners in the field, using To overcome this problem, Zoos Victoria would work to stop this happening its extensive skills in the areas of captive has established the Guardian Dog again. management, breeding and release, and Project, inspired by the successful use of maremma dogs to help the recovery It began by assessing the vertebrate supporting innovative conservation and protection of Little Penguins from species listed as at risk in Victoria solutions. fox predation in Warrnambool. The dogs against four criteria: small population Bandicoot bodyguards instinctively protect the birds that they size; declining populations; restricted have been socialised with or conditioned distribution; key threatening processes. As with many of our native species, the greatest threat to Eastern Barred to, and they can go on to help monitor Sixteen species were identified Bandicoots is feral animals such as and protect them after release. and added to four threatened ones foxes. Since 1989, Zoos Victoria has Maremma dogs will be used to secure a occurring outside Victoria but which worked to secure the bandicoots population of Eastern Barred Bandicoots the zoo was already actively supporting, through captive breeding programs, in suitable habitat without feral-proof such as the Lord Howe Island Stick and their numbers have increased from fencing. Insect. 50 to more than 400. Maremmas also naturally protect These 20 ‘Fighting Extinction’ species At this stage the bandicoots can only livestock, and could allow bandicoots are all at risk of extinction in the wild be released into fully fenced fox-proof to be released on multi-purpose over the next 10 years without urgent areas. But building and maintaining farmland. Over the next five years Zoos conservation interventions. fox-proof enclosures is a costly exercise, Victoria will trial this on private land To secure the future of these threatened and it only takes one fox invasion to at Tiverton Station, a grazing property species, Zoos Victoria is working with wipe out an entire population. near Mortlake in western Victoria that

22 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 has low sheep stocking rates and habitat suitable for bandicoots. Baw Baw Bunker Zoos Victoria is using a very different approach to conserve the critically endangered Baw Baw Frog. The threat to these tiny amphibians is not from feral species, but matters more difficult to control, the spread of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus and climate change. Baw Baw Frogs are found only on the Baw Baw Plateau (see Geoff Durham’s In Parks feature on Baw Baw National Park on p.20) where they live and feed underground. Their population has PHIL INGAMELLS PHOTO: declined by 30 per cent over the past two Central Victoria’s Kooyoora State Park. State Parks actually have the same level of protection years; data from the last survey (2011) as National Parks, but are often confused with State Forests. showed a total population of about 2,600. A major challenge is the lack of knowledge around the frog’s captive Victoria’s public land gets the management and breeding, should its wild population continue to decline. once-over ... again But the collection of wild egg masses and the establishment of a specialised facility A NEW VEAC INVESTIGATION COULD FRAME CONSERVATION AGENDAS at Melbourne Zoo – the ‘Baw Baw FOR THE YEARS AHEAD. Bunker’ – are already bearing fruit. The Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC) has been asked to hold The Baw Baw Bunker is a refrigerated a thorough Statewide Assessment of Public Land. The inquiry, essentially a shipping container modified to enable ‘stocktake’ of all parks and conservation reserves and other areas of public rigorous control of temperature, humidity, land, will take place in several stages. Importantly, VEAC has been told by the lighting and moisture, which is crucial to government that it is ‘not intended that the investigation will change the current all life stages from eggs to frogs. levels of protection underpinning Victoria’s public land system’. Two egg masses were collected in First, VEAC will make an assessment of the current system of public land November 2013, and another four in categories, including options for changing or consolidating the existing categories. December 2014 along with four frogs. Potentially, this could lead to a simplification of the huge number of categories of Overcoming successive husbandry protected areas we have inherited over the years, possibly matching international challenges, our skilled amphibian guidelines. The final report for this is due by September 2015. keepers are now rearing 140 Baw Baw froglets. Then VEAC will: • assess the current reservation status of public land, including areas where land This work is being complemented by the use has changed since earlier investigations. reinstatement of surveys to track wild • make an inventory of the types of values on public land. population trends, which are essential to understand how this little frog is faring These last two investigations will involve release of a discussion paper (due early 2016), on Mt Baw Baw. then a draft proposals paper, with the final reports completed by February 2017. Zoos Victoria is using sound ecological Initial public submissions are due by Monday 22 June 2015. This will be the only research and community engagement opportunity to comment on the first investigation, or to provide information for to help overcome the conservation the discussion paper for the other two investigations. challenges facing our native wildlife There will be two more opportunities for public comment: after the discussion and secure the future for species such paper is released, and after the draft proposals paper. as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and Baw Baw Frog. • PW More information can be found on VEAC’s website at www.veac.vic.gov.au and suggestions for submissions can be found on the VNPA’s website Brooke Squires is a conservation officer www.vnpa.org.au in Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Conservation Department. Email: [email protected] Initial submissions should be sent to [email protected] by Monday, 22 June. • PW

PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • JUNE • JUNE 2015 2015 NO NO 261 261 23 23 Secretive, unfair fund cheats our parks RAY RADFORD REPORTS THAT VICTORIA’S NATIONAL PARKS ARE BEING DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHTFUL SHARE OF PUBLIC MONEY FROM THE PARKS AND RESERVES TRUST FUND.

Since 1958 the Parks and Reserves Not only is the fund secretive, the funding, often lacking broader government Trust Fund has received its income expenditure figures reveal that, while support. from the ‘parks charge’ on residential the total amount of money collected by Yet there is even a further problem with and commercial water, sewerage and the parks charge has grown by around this secretive fund: it is inequitable. drainage bills (farms are exempt). 45 per cent in real terms since 1999, Some of this contributes to the revenue to Parks Victoria has only The parks charge is only paid by people management of our national parks grown by 12.7 per cent. living in areas serviced by the old by providing 38% of the Parks Victoria Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of The result is that the proportion of budget. Works in 1996, while money from the fund funding to Parks Victoria has dropped has to be spent on parks enjoyed by many The parks charge is calculated using from 74 per cent of revenue in 1999 to more people in the now larger metropolitan the property’s net annual value. For 57 per cent in 2014. This has occurred area (see map). This is unfair and also 20 residential properties, the net annual at a time when Parks Victoria funding years out of date because the metropolitan value is multiplied by five per cent and has been so badly cut that it has less area has expanded considerably as huge new then 0.424 per cent is applied to the staff than when it was established in suburbs have been established. National resulting figure. For a property valued 1996, even though the park estate has parks in the rest of the state are funded at $2.5million, the park charge would expanded dramatically. by Victorian Government consolidated be $530; there is also a minimum charge The share of funding to other revenue, grants and some self-generated of $70.62. organisations, such as Zoos Victoria income from fees and charges. Although the fund raised $153 million ($17.6m in 2013-14), Royal Botanic The growing population and expanding in 2013-14, it does not publicly account Gardens ($13.9m) and the Shrine metropolitan area mean that our parks and for its income or expenditure. To gain of Remembrance ($0.96m), has reserves are under increasing pressure for access to this information, the Victorian substantially increased. While these are funding. However, the total cost of our park Environmental Friends Network had to worthy organisations, national parks estate, covering around 17 per cent of the file a Freedom of Information request. are heavily dependent on the trust for state, is less than 0.6 per cent of total state government expenditure. Any increase would either have to come from consolidated revenue or by the state government Willis’s Walkabouts increasing the amount of money generated from the existing parks charge. MADAGASCAR Four weeks: September 2015 It is time the Parks and Reserves Trust No one else Fund published annual reports that include offers a tour like maps of the parks charge collection and this. Transport will be primarily expenditure areas. This is an easy thing to by chartered minivan, but will do and it should start from July this year. also include pirogue canoes, and There should also be an independent review of course, your own feet while of the trust fund’s funding arrangements. carrying a day or overnight pack. Such a review should consider the amount We can’t even begin to describe and the scope of the parks charge. It should everything you will do and see in a also determine why only some properties short ad like this, suffice to say that in the Melbourne metropolitan area pay the charge and others do not e.g. one side the clients on our first Madagascar of the Dandenong-Hastings Road is in the trip in 2014 all loved it. The things collection area while the other side is not. we learned on that trip should The review should also take account of the make this one even better. significant expansion of the metropolitan The best way to get an idea of what area over the past 20 years and consider the broadening of the parks charge to cover all it is like is to read the trip notes. of Victoria. PW www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/ • pdf/madagascar.pdf Ray Radford is Convenor of the PS. Victorian Environmental Friends Network. We also offer trips to South Africa. Robert Bender, editor of the network's newsletter, FriendsNet, and Matt Ruchel, www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au [email protected] Ph: 08 8985 2134 VNPA's Director, gathered the data used in this analysis.

24 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 WHITTLESEA

HEALESVILLE

MELTON

MELBOURNE

DANDENONG

PORT PHILLIP BAY

FRANKSTON

GEELONG

Boundary of collection area WESTERN PORT Boundary of expenditure area National parks and reserves Marine national parks and sanctuaries Public land Melbourne metro area Private land BASE MAP: ANDREW COX MAP: BASE The size of the collection area for the revenue of the Parks and Reserves Trust Fund is far smaller than the area where the funds are spent, which is inequitable Trust revenue, Parks Vic distribution for those paying the parks charge on Cumulative percentage change their water, sewerage and drainage bills. The expenditure area includes the collection 50% area (cross-hatched on the map) and the area to its east shaded with diagonal lines. 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% -10% 99-00 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 There is a widening gap between the revenue of the Parks and Revenue Parks Victoria Reserves Trust Fund and its

GRAPH: ROBERT BENDER ROBERT GRAPH: allocation to Parks Victoria.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 25 A beach litter analysis being conducted by the Christ Church Community Centre.

Community acts on litter in the plastic age

THE INVENTION OF PLASTIC STARTED A REVOLUTION THAT CHANGED THE WORLD BUT 100 YEARS LATER WE’RE DROWNING IN IT, SAYS FAM CHARKO.

Plastic is the largest type of litter in the world's oceans, and they receive 21 million tonnes of it every year. As a result there are currently an estimated 5.26 trillion plastic particles floating around the oceans.

Due to recent research on the impacts of plastics on wildlife, plastic pollution is no longer just an amenity issue; it is PHILLIP PORT ECOCENTRE PHOTO: now seen as a very real threat to wildlife and the marine food chain. In a study of a Short-tailed Shearwater plastic products of all kinds. Their Plastic does not fully break down into colony on Phillip Island, all fledglings small size (3-5 mm) makes them organic molecules and so it never sampled were found to have plastic in extremely hard to clean up once really goes away; it merely degrades their stomachs. This may lead to the they have entered the environment, into smaller and smaller pieces. Apart chicks leaving the nest underweight, which frequently occurs after spills from the obvious entanglement issues, jeopardising their survival success and on factory floors or during transport. animals at each trophic level are also leading to a population decline. They are lightweight and float, easily at risk of mistaking plastic for food entering the waterways via drains and ingesting it. From corals to sea Plastics also tend to absorb already after periods of rain. Nurdles come in cucumbers, from crustaceans to dissolved chemicals like DDTs, PCBs every colour, but most are transparent seabirds, sea turtles and fish; plastic and heavy metals from the water. When or black, causing wildlife to mistake particles have been found in the ingested, these chemicals transfer them for food. digestive systems of marine species into the tissues of the animal, posing around the world. health risks to them and their predators In 2013, the Port Phillip EcoCentre higher up the food chain through discovered a very large amount In addition to the more obvious bioaccumulation. As humans are top of nurdles in a major drain in the physical problems of gut punctures predators of the marine environment, western suburbs of Melbourne. and digestive tract blockages, ingested this includes us. This led to an investigation by EPA particles inhibit the animal’s urge to Victoria, resulting in an upstream forage for more food by making it A common item on the beaches is the business being ordered to clean up feel satiated without providing any nurdle or plastic resin pellet. Nurdles the drain and spilled nurdles around nourishment. are melted down in factories to produce their factory.

26 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 PHOTO: PHOTO: BEACH PATROL PHOTO: PORT PHILLIP PORT ECOCENTRE PHOTO: PHILLIP PORT ECOCENTRE PHOTO:

Clockwise from top left: Beach Patrol members from postcode 3182 ready to clear litter from their local beach; litter piles up at the Stony Creek backwash under the Westgate Bridge; children play in The Butt Castle, an art installation made from cigarette butts picked up by volunteers in St Kilda; nurdles are small plastic pellets that are becoming a huge plastic pollution problem on beaches and pose a risk to marine animals that ingest them. PHOTO: PORT PHILLIP PORT ECOCENTRE PHOTO:

Further research and monitoring of This growing community running a multi-year, community- waterways in Melbourne’s catchment engagement with litter issues is based litter monitoring and area has since revealed that nurdles demonstrated by Beach Patrol, a prevention project named ‘Turn Off are found in many inland creeks and group of people who take one hour The Tap’. The project supports several drains, as well as on most beaches from per month to clean up the beach in environment groups in gathering Sorrento to Altona. Outside the bay their own postcode locality, followed a large amount of litter data and they have been found on Sorrento back by social coffee at a nearby cafe. provides litter prevention education beach and at Wilsons Promontory. in schools in the wider Yarra Beach Patrol started out in Albert catchment. The Melbourne metropolitan area has Park in 2009 with only a few people many factories that use nurdles, making but has now grown to fifteen groups By undertaking nurdle surveys in it very hard to prove which ones are around Port Phillip Bay. The latest local waterways, the EcoCentre is the specific sources of pollution. Port group officially launched in Rye in supporting not-for-profit Tangaroa Phillip EcoCentre has initiated targeted February and three more will have Blue’s Australian Marine Debris monitoring of waterways in proximity started by June this year in Frankston, Initiative, which is working to create to factories as a means of identifying Seaford and Werribee. a national program that assists in the source. Having no specific reducing the loss of nurdles during legislation or enforcement measures in More than 1,300 volunteers are now manufacturing and transport. place to prevent this type of industrial engaged in beach cleaning every month by Beach Patrol alone. In pollution is a major issue that needs to The EcoCentre seeks community be urgently addressed. addition, many other local groups, support by asking people to keep an like Friends of Williamstown Of the litter in Port Phillip Bay, Wetlands, Friends of Westgate Park eye out for nurdles near their local approximately 95 per cent comes from and Scab Duty, to name but a few, waterways. If you see nurdles, please the stormwater system in the greater are taking care of their local patch, take a photo and send it, with the Melbourne metropolitan area. Often which often is a marine sanctuary or exact location, to Fam Charko at the the last barrier standing between this sensitive wetland ecosystem. Port Phillip EcoCentre. • PW litter and the marine environment is a community group. As litter has become These community efforts have not Fam Charko is the Community an increasing problem in Melbourne gone unnoticed by the Victorian Engagement Manager at the waterways, community environment Government, which recently awarded Port Phillip EcoCentre. You can groups and active individuals are a Litter Hotspots Program grant contact her on [email protected] responding by taking personal action. to the Port Phillip EcoCentre for or phone: (03) 9534 0670.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 27 Looking west along the port Campbell coastline. The rifle range is hidden from view on the vegetated escarpment.

Community shooting down spa resort proposal

MARION MANIFOLD WRITES OF CONCERNS ABOUT A PROPOSED SPA RESORT ON THE SPECTACULAR PORT CAMPBELL COAST. PHOTO: MARION MANIFOLD PHOTO:

The Port Campbell coast is threatened wild bluff, and would be visible all the yet again. Corangamite Shire Council way down the coast to the 12 Apostles. is conducting a feasibility study, funded This land is not necessary for a resort as by ratepayers and the former Victorian 10 large private land sites (in total more Government, for a spa resort on a large than 1,000 hectares) were rezoned wedge of Commonwealth land situated for large tourism developments along on the cliffs near Port Campbell. this coast in 2012 and could be used No other sites are being considered for a spa, including one site just over in the study. MARION MANIFOLD PHOTO: the road. There are also other sites The land is bordered on each side by the better suited to a spa resort, such as a The metallic Sun Orchid, an endangered species, Port Campbell National Park and has large piece of land opposite the Port is found at the Port Campbell Rifle Range. sweeping views along the coast. It has Campbell police station or on the Blair high ecological significance, containing Estate that sits high above the town; The Corangamite Shire Council should EPBC Act-listed species that include both could support this venture and have first discussed the proposal with the the Metallic Sun Orchid and Southern both have excellent views. local community, which has a long-term Brown Bandicoot and is an extremely interest in the area, rather than facilitate The proposed site contains a land- important wildlife corridor linking the the interests of a private developer. to-sea gas pipeline. Buildings are not national park. permitted within a 20-metre easement The current Victorian Government The land is leased to the Port Campbell and the safe setback of buildings for has a policy of no large developments Rifle Club, which has been an important this class of pipeline (as specified by in national parks and the community part of the area’s history since July Energy Safe Victoria) is 700 metres, is amazed that it has not stopped 1900; the current site was opened on otherwise a detailed risk assessment the feasibility study and advised the 10 April 1954. The club's members would be required. developer to look at other sites already compete in national and international zoned for such a purpose. The local community believes there championships and contribute to the should be no development of this There is very strong community identity of the community. The wider site, but if the feasibility study deems opposition and the State Government community supports this historic use it proceed, then a full and open and its management appears to assist the should step in before ratepayer and Environmental Impact Assessment surrounding habitats and wildlife. taxpayer money, and much community (EIS) should be conducted, with any time and energy, is spent. • PW Any tourism development would costs associated with the EIS, risk have an adverse aesthetic impact on a assessment and additional actions and Marion Manifold is Secretary of the nationally listed coastline, a beautiful controls borne by the developer. Port Campbell Community Group.

28 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 “Stirling? Now don’t you worry about that.” PHOTO: RUSSELL COSTELLO PHOTO: Site inspection of the proposed road’s route by the Mt Buller-Mt Stirling Link Road Advisory In 2008, the Mount Buller and Mount Committee with VNPA councillors in attendance. Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board (ARMB) applied for a permit to build a new road between Mount $6-17 million on a second Mt Buller bushfire, the Link Road would be a Buller and Mount Stirling via the tourist road fits in with its priorities potential death trap. north face of Corn Hill. and budgets. As a ‘nordic ski trail’ the Link Road The 2.4-kilometre, two-way sealed Over the past five years VNPA has is doomed because the entire road is road would be cut through intact searched for a rationale for the road on the sun-exposed northern slopes, sub-alpine forests, mostly with high to and background information. After and below the snowline, for most of very high conservation significance, much effort, we still cannot find any the winter. including threatened species. The road of the following: would connect Mount Buller with We believe that this proposal is a • a completed strategic plan for Howqua Gap. symptom of dysfunctional economic, the destination of the Link Road, planning and consultation issues. From VNPA has opposed this Link Road Mount Stirling. 1998 to 2003, Mount Stirling lost about since it first learned of the planning • a business case $200,000 per year, and nowadays it is application in 2010. It made no sense. a drain on Buller finances. Stirling has • records of public consultation or There is already the ‘Corn Hill Road’ the economic model of a national park, public support connecting the same two points via the not an alpine resort. south side of Corn Hill. An upgrade • a request from any emergency would seem more logical. service, including the Country Fire The proposed Link Road is a ‘road to Authority, for a new road across the nowhere’, unless the ARMB intends However, the ARMB has pressed north face of Corn Hill to convert Mount Stirling into ahead, the planning application and ‘somewhere’, perhaps a dormitory • a mountains or regional fire our objections being heard at a three- suburb of Mount Buller, thus creating management plan which includes, day hearing at Planning Panels Victoria a bonanza for property developers. or demands this Link Road in mid-April. We await a decision from the Planning Minister. • any request, public support or We should have had a completed skiability study relating to a new Mount Stirling Strategic Plan and While the road may end up ticking the ‘nordic ski trail’, which the road is a business case years ago. ‘Let’s not bureaucratic planning boxes, it does supposed to become in winter get hung up about it’ is not an raise a strategic issue for the Andrews acceptable answer. • PW • a visual impacts study Government – both Planning Minister Wynne and Environment Minister Lisa • any detailed geotechnical studies Charles Street has been a keen cross Neville, who is in charge of Victoria's that clarify the risks of landslide, country skier, bushwalker and a alpine resorts, should consider the associated risks of loss of life, and the campaigner for the conservation of broader issues of public policy and costs of construction. Mount Stirling for over 20 years. He planning objectives, before making was also a member of the Mount a decision. The claim that the Link Road could be Buller and Mount Stirling Alpine Resort used for ‘fire access’ is absurd. It would Management Board from 2004 to The Victorian Government should take people from Mount Buller into 2006. The VNPA’s Save Mount Stirling ensure there is a completed strategic the forests of Corn Hill and Mount campaign has been supported by the plan for Mt Stirling based on Stirling, with no fire fighting or fire talents and hard work of Environmental comprehensive public consultation, protection facilities. This is contrary Justice Australia, The Mount Stirling clearly outlining the strategic to the ARMB’s own published bushfire Development Taskforce, Practical significance of the road (if there is procedure that says: ‘Avoid forested Ecology Pty. Ltd. and a small army of any), and whether or not spending areas, thick bush or long dry grass’. In a VNPA personnel and volunteers.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 29 Grow West celebrates 10 years of community action PHOTO: BOB REID PHOTO: The 10th Annual Planting Day Committee – Alan Marks, Terese Dalman, David McKinnon, Emma Muir and Helena Lindorff – inspect the planting site on the Lakey’s farm at Rowsley.

Grow West is in celebration mode. ‘We were in search of a property that ‘Over time we plan to build on the needed some TLC and was also an ideal block and develop a bed and breakfast In 2012 we planted our one-millionth location to develop our farm business’, so that people can appreciate the tree, 2013 was the time to celebrate our said John. revegetation works and natural tenth anniversary and 2014 was when beauty of the valley’, said John. we planted the one-millionth tree at the ‘With the support of Grow West and Yaloak Estate, a large farming property Melbourne Water in 2013-14, we Helena Lindorff is excited to near Ballan. planted more than 25,000 trees along organise the 10th Annual the waterways, developed a series Community Planting Day on This year Grow West is proud to of strategic wind breaks and direct- John and Tristia’s property. celebrate 10 years of community action seeded 22 hectares of hill country with at the Annual Community Planting Day endemic native species.’ ‘It’s been wonderful working with on Sunday 19 July. During those 10 years John, Tristia and their niece on we have welcomed 1,800 volunteers who John and Tristia’s whole-farm approach environmental restoration works have planted an amazing 60,000 trees on to restore the non-arable areas of the through the Grow West Biodiversity 70 hectares of land. property, fence out waterways and plant Incentives Program. Their wind breaks will provide enormous enthusiasm and sheer determination ‘The Grow West team would like to benefits to the environment and the to make a change has been an thank all the volunteers who have helped farm’s productivity. inspiration to all.’ us over the years’, said Grow West Project Coordinator, Helena Lindorff. ‘Rabbits and weeds are our biggest ‘John and Tristia are extremely battle. We began tackling them at a grateful to the volunteers who will ‘It takes a big team of people to whole-farm scale and soon realised set aside their Sunday to come and coordinate the event behind the scenes, that a neighbourhood approach was plant 5,000 native seedlings on their as well as all those that ring up on a required. With our neighbours on property’, said Helena. Sunday morning and come out to plant. board, we are seeing a reduction in Some years we have had lovely weather rabbit numbers and an increase in grass Grow West are proud partners of and others it’s been a challenge to stay coverage, which in turn increases farm VNPA and welcome members and upright on the hill.’ productivity’, said John. their families to the 10th Annual Community Planting Day on Sunday Grow West is this year heading to John ‘Our niece and her family have bought 19 July from 9.30am–4.30pm. Lunch and Tristia Lakey’s 105-hectare property the farm next door and together we are and refreshments will be provided. in Rowsley, which they purchased in running Saler cattle, Ryeland sheep and Registrations close 13th July. • PW 2012. It is only 66 kilometres west of Boer goats that are being sold directly Melbourne and a stone’s throw from to Melbourne restaurants as sustainable For more information visit Werribee Gorge State Park. m e at .’ www.growwest.com.au.

30 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 Landcare Facilitator Phil Falcke gives a hand to some young Project Hindmarsh planters. Another big planting Dimboola and surrounding district. It is planned that all planting will be completed for Project on the Saturday with optional activities available on the Sunday. Hindmarsh A limited number of accommodation options are available and include camping Now in its 18th year, planning for on the Recreation Reserve – it will resemble Project Hindmarsh, the Hindmarsh a tent city when the planters converge on it - Landcare Network’s iconic planting HEMPHILL STEVE PHOTO: and a caravan park and the local motel. event, is well under way. This event is supported through generous The Project Hindmarsh planting The Antwerp property was purchased donations from the ACE Radio Network, weekend will be held on 14-16 August by Ben and Tim Inkster in 2013. The 2015, hosted out of Dimboola with area to be planted on the weekend was Handbury Family Trust, Luv A Duck, the main planting site at Ben and Tim previously heavily grazed by sheep Lowan Foods, Victorian Landcare and Inkster’s property in Antwerp, on the and will be fenced off from livestock to Wimmera Catchment Management banks of the Wimmera River. allow the plants – 12,000 Indigenous Authority. • PW plants and direct seedings – to flourish. This historic site was once occupied by Registrations for Project Hindmarsh the Mallee Eucalyptus Company and As in previous Project Hindmarsh are to be made through the produced Emu brand oil from 1882 weekends, volunteers will be well Hindmarsh Landcare Network website, to 1905. The company was Australia's looked after with most meals provided, www.hindmarshlandcare.org.au. leading eucalyptus oil producer, using as well as entertainment on Saturday Any enquiries can be made to mallee plantations at Antwerp Station. night. Volunteers come from all over [email protected] In 1885 it merged with Bosisto's to Victoria with some interstate visitors, or to Steve Hemphill, Local Landcare form J. Bosisto and Co. making this a great event to show off Facilitator on mobile: 0429 006 936.

Willow weed-pullers at Howman’s Gap Weekend on the Bogong willow pull High Plains.

‘Rising levels of background noise threaten to make people oblivious to the uplifting sounds of birdsong, trickling water and trees rustling in the wind.’ These words from a recent edition of The Guardian Weeklyremind me of an extended weekend of willow pulling on the Bogong High Plains in February. But NORWOOD CLODAGH PHOTO: instead of birdsong, we ignored the uplift from myriad sounds of insects. The aim was to get as close to the main only the botanists among us could stem as possible, and whether from properly name, and included many It was on a Friday evening when, in dribs big or small willows, these stems can yellow daisies and White Gentian. and drabs, 18 volunteers arrived at the spread extensively underground. The YMCA in Howman’s Gap. The snow gums, which are regenerating technique used was to cut the main after the large fires that ravaged the area The next morning we were introduced stem with secateurs and then quickly in 2003, have kept their snow white to our three VNPA ‘rangers’, Elaine, dab both cut ends with the Round-up trunks and branches. The mystical effect Wendy and Antony, who led our three we carried in small, sponge-topped of these sublime natural sculptures was groups during the ‘working’ day. We were bottles, a little like modern shoe-shine enhanced by the occasional descent of taken in 4WD vehicles to three different bottles. The most difficult specimens mist into Howmans Gap. locations, boggy areas of the high plains were dealt with by people working in favoured by the willows. pairs, prompting many a tête-à-tête. Rarely, I later reflected, does hard work and a sense of delight combine so well. • PW Although easier to spot, the larger willows The generally benign weather allowed (up to a metre high) were definitely not stunning views from those beautiful Clodagh Norwood joined 17 other easier to dislodge. After a small frisson of alpine meadows across to Mt Bogong volunteers to pull willows at excitement, elicited by detection of one’s and further afield. There were still a Howman's Gap under the watchful prey, the hard work began. good number of wildflowers, which eye of John Stirling.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 31 FERAL DEER ON THE RISE

ANDREW COX REPORTS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY VICTORIA’S RAPIDLY EXPANDING FERAL DEER POPULATION. PHOTO: STEVE MORVELL STEVE PHOTO: A large male red deer in the Grampians.

Victorian farmers and wildlife Secondly, regular reports of the a ‘potentially threatening process’ are in for tough times – feral deer number of deer killed by hunters under Victoria’s threatened species populations are flourishing and show that it has become much easier legislation. All deer are heavy grazers or spreading. to kill them. For the most common browsers, reducing plant diversity and deer in Victoria, Sambar, their competing with other native animals. It is the legacy of acclimatisation, numbers killed by hunters have gone They cause physical damage through which was enthusiastically supported from 8,500 in 2004 to 47,000 in 2014. trampling, erosion and wallowing and in the 1800s by the likes of Victoria’s In a decade, the number of Sambar spread weeds and diseases. Deer create governor and the editor of the state’s killed annually has increased almost extensive tracks through moist gullies, major newspaper, and saw attempts five-fold, while the number of hunters removing ground cover and assisting to introduce exotic monkeys, birds, has increased only four-fold. These the movement of other feral animals. giraffes, other creatures – and deer – to numbers suggest a population of Victoria. Thankfully, this fad has largely at least several hundred thousand, The Victorian Government has felt faded away but not the deer. perhaps more. unable to act for fear of a hunting community backlash. But feral The political power of the hunting The Victorian Government admits deer are not an either/or problem. lobby has ensured that the rising that hunting is failing to control Unfortunately, it is impossible to population of deer is unmonitored, deer, saying it ‘appears to have little eradicate them so recreational hunters unchecked and officially unimportant. noticeable effect on the success of the will always have deer to kill. By In the absence of monitoring, there are species’, that Sambar have steadily pandering mainly to hunters with a two trends that justify alarm. extended their range into NSW and narrow policy agenda, the government the ACT, and that their density is is neglecting the environmental, There are more and more reports of deer increasing. The numbers of fallow economic and social costs of the affecting farmers (deer graze and browse and red deer shot have also risen and growing feral deer population. crops, fruit trees and grassy paddocks exceed the rise in hunter numbers. meant for livestock, and destroy fences), Treating deer as the problem pest causing car accidents, and impacting on Sambar deer are already officially they really are requires better laws important patches of bushland such as recognised as impacting on and policies. The key role lies with the in the Dandenong Ranges. threatened plants with a listing as Victorian Government, for dealing

32 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 PHOTOS: STEVE MORVELL STEVE PHOTOS: The number of feral deer is increasing in The Grampians and many other parts of Victoria. Deer infestations Sambar Hog in Victoria Fallow Red

Feral deer are widespread in Victoria and expanding their range, which means that this map, produced only a few years ago, is now in need of updating.

Ridding The Grampians of deer Steve Morvell, wildlife artist, former park ranger and long- term Halls Gap resident, recently wrote to environment minister, with an emerging pest requires a Recreational hunting will continue Lisa Neville, about the deer coordinated response. to be supported by government problem facing the Grampians but it must not be mistaken for National Park: There first needs to be public feral animal control. It is ad-hoc, ‘I am deeply concerned about acceptance of the problem, facilitated dispersed and opportunistic, … the proliferation of feral deer by declaring feral deer as a pest conducted by hunters with variable in our beautiful park. … Where species and removing their out- skill levels and often targeting trophy 20-years back seeing one or two of-date protected game species males. Restrictions such as bans was unusual, herds of 25 are status under the Wildlife Act 1975. on night hunting and the use of now not uncommon here in the Understanding of the problem would spotlights also limit its effectiveness. Halls Gap valley. I myself have be assisted by a systematic assessment counted 56 individuals browsing of deer populations across Victoria. Skilled volunteer shooters can still be peacefully within 600 metres helpful if engaged under supervision of the Parks Vic offices and have A feral deer management strategy is to assist with coordinated, strategic on many occasions observed also needed and it should include a and supervised control efforts, as has them grazing right outside the funded and systematic approach to recently begun in the Dandenong office windows there. Hardly preventing the spread of feral deer Ranges and Yellingbo areas, and used a good advertisement for park and reducing their impacts. Priority successfully for feral goats in the management.’ would be given to eradicating small Little Desert National Park for VNPA says the Grampians is isolated populations and lowering some years. impacts on high conservation areas, a perfect place to run a deer eradication program. While minimising traffic accidents and Allowing widespread unsupervised millions will be spent on a new limiting other damage. Greater hunting in national parks is not the tourist-friendly walking track controls are needed to prevent answer, although it appears to be the through the Grampians National deer farm escapes and deliberate real agenda of the hunting lobby – Park, the areas the visitors walk movement of deer by hunters, and acclimatisation in another guise. • PW through are increasingly being there needs to be research on new damaged by red deer. control measures, including Andrew Cox is CEO of the humane baits. Invasive Species Council.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 33 Rewriting Victoria’s spread over more than half the state of Victoria, putting numerous threatened invasive species at risk (being a listed threat under the Fauna and Flora Guarantee species laws Act). Invasive species legislation needs a process to resolve such conflicts of

PHOTO: WWW.FREEIMAGES.COM/MARCAERT PHOTO: interest between primary industries and environmental protection. ANDREW COX ADVOCATES NEW LAWS TO COMBAT INVASIVE PESTS, WEEDS AND DISEASES IN VICTORIA. Currently the process for listing species for eradication, control or management Victoria’s invasive species laws are years, leading to a low rate of new is opaque and combines scientific risk set for a rewrite during 2015. This weeds. assessment with political considerations. represents an important chance to A superior model is to use an stem the growing numbers of new Inexplicably, a late addition to the bill, independent expert-based committee to pests, weeds and diseases entering absent in an earlier discussion paper, make decisions on the risk or threat posed and establishing in the State. was a restriction that prevented game by different invasive species. The second- animals, such as deer and exotic game stage decision on the resulting actions Of about 1,000 exotic plants established birds like Californian quail, from ever needed to respond to the risk, and the in native vegetation in Victoria, about being declared a pest species. Native public resources to be committed, would 580 are known to threaten biodiversity, plants unnaturally spreading beyond be made by government or the Minister. landscape or social values; on average their usual range, such as Sweet seven new plants (mostly garden Pittosporum, were also excluded from If such a system were adopted, already escapees) are established in the wild in the bill. introduced species would undergo Victoria each year. a systematic risk assessment and An important biosecurity reform categorisation to optimise management. At least a dozen invasive animals rate missing from the draft legislation among Victoria’s most serious threats was a ‘duty of care’ obligation that Best-practice measures also include such as foxes, cats, rabbits, deer, horses, requires everybody to avoid creating a the addition of ecologically sustainable ants and wasps. biosecurity risk. This idea was recently development as a guiding principle, implemented in Queensland and is now which includes the precautionary The Invasive Species Control Bill, proposed for NSW. It aims to ensure principle, conservation of biodiversity, presented by the Coalition Government that everybody behaves responsibly to intergenerational equity, valuation and in its final legislative flurry at the end minimise the establishment and spread pricing, and public participation. of 2014, was seriously lacking and of invasive species. thankfully failed to pass. The Invasive Species Control Bill is not The environment must be at the centre all problematic. We praise its adoption But while the bill would have provided of tackling the threat from invasive of a tenure-blind approach, where broader powers, they were highly species. Traditionally, attention has responsibilities are the same regardless discretionary and would have allowed focused predominantly on threats to of tenure, public or private, and the biosecurity protection to dwindle with agricultural production and economic extension of the legislation to cover the government’s shrinking resources. interests. Victoria was one of the invertebrates and aquatic invasives. What is needed instead is legislative few state governments to allocate In a change to the way declarations will clout to implement the sensible goals invasive species management to the operate in Victoria, instead of listing and actions in Victoria’s biosecurity Minister for the Environment and the a species at a catchment management strategy and invasive species policy environment department. In recent authority area or statewide level, any framework. years, responsibility has reverted to the useful boundary can be used. This is a agriculture department. Labor has left good change. There must be a commitment to these arrangements unchanged, but prevention as the most cost-effective has given the reformed environment A biosecurity law can seem rather dry and approach. One of the most widely department responsibility for marine abstract, and it won’t incite street marches regarded preventive measures for invasive pests. or protests, but this law could make a huge lowering the risk from new invasive difference to the future of Victoria’s wildlife species, a ‘permitted list’ approach, was Embedding biosecurity within and environmental health. The effects of also missing from the bill. Without this, agriculture can bring conflicts of past legal laxness are all too evident in this nurseries and other plant sellers will be interest and neglect of environmental state, and we cannot afford for invasive able to continue selling weedy plants priorities. The Victorian Government species problems to keep growing at the introduced and continues to actively that will eventually escape to become current rate. • PW problems for land managers and costly promote tall wheat grass as a pastoral for taxpayers. Western Australia has grass for saline areas. This is a highly Andrew Cox is CEO of the successfully used this system for many invasive weed with the potential to Invasive Species Council.

34 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 BOOK REVIEW Flooded forest and desert creek: Ecology and history of the River Red Gum

By Matthew Colloff, CSIRO Publishing, 2014 Hardback, RRP $69.95

The River Red Gum (Eucalyptus River Red Gum forests and woodlands construct wharfs, paddle steamers, camaldulensis) is a remarkable tree. – via fire, grazing, timber harvesting mine shaft props, bridges, pavements, It is Australia’s most widely distributed and river regulation (damming). roads and railway sleepers. Periodic eucalypt and, where we humans flooding is essential for healthy River Part 3, ‘From exploitation to have not caused its destruction, Red Gum forests. River regulation can conservation and multiple values’, thrives along ephemeral and more be damaging. In the Barmah Forest, presents Indigenous and non- permanent rivers and creeks and flood frequency and intensity affect Indigenous ideas. Colloff traces the their flood plains. River Red Gum, Moira-grass and their gradual shift from exploitation to interactions. Matthew Colloff, of CSIRO Ecosystem conservation, including the concept Sciences, is currently researching of ‘wise use’ articulated in the Ramsar Colloff’s involvement with River floodplain ecosystem function and Convention on Wetlands. And he Red Gum began at Barmah Forest – biodiversity. He is interested in how wonders whether climate change when the Victorian Government was ecosystems work, how they are changing, will convert floodplain wetlands into considering designating it and other and how they can be managed. terrestrial communities. River Red Gum areas national parks. In Flooded forest and desert creek he Colloff sensibly focusses on two River As you may remember, the Brumby applies his research expertise to River Red Gum regions rich in records and Labor Government established the Red Gum in floodplain and wetland stories – central and south-eastern Barmah and Gunbower national parks ecosystems. He examines past impacts Australia. The latter includes Victoria’s in 2010. However, before establishing of climate, geography and people on Barmah Forest, about which Colloff the long linear Murray River Park the ecology of River Red Gum forests writes quite a bit. He documents from a string of reserves between and and woodlands, and ventures beyond the unlikely Aboriginal burning beyond Barmah and Gunbower, they science into history, economics, politics of River Red Gum and their much lost the state election, and the incoming and the arts to create a fascinating more common burning of associated Coalition Government reversed the multidimensional study of the reed beds. process of phasing out grazing licences River Red Gum. and re-issued over 200. In pre-European times Moira-grass The book is divided into three parts. (sometimes called Spiny Mudgrass) Colloff enriches the narrative of Part 1, ‘The unfolding forest’, covers was also commonly associated with Flooded forest and desert creek with the tree’s evolution, distribution and River Red Gum. But grazing stock and maps, graphs, diagrams and recent and taxonomy, its life history, growth rabbits have since wreaked havoc on historical photographs. and water use, and its ecosystem this nutritious grass. Years after Barmah functions. Read how its scientific name Forest was listed under the Ramsar I recommend this book to anyone comes from the Count of Camaldoli’s Convention, a field experiment showed interested in indigenous plants, European garden, and how the south- that Moira-grass, regenerating after a national parks and landscape history, eastern Australian subspecies acts as flood, survived only as long as it was and I hope that you enjoy reading it as an ‘ecosystem engineer’ in floodplain protected from grazing and drought. much as I have. • PW forests and woodlands. River Red Gum timber’s durability Review by Linden Gillbank, School of Part 2, ‘Forces of change’, is about attracted widespread forest destruction. Historical and Philosophical Studies, human exploitation of Murray-Darling The dense hardwood was sought to The University of Melbourne.

PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 35 BOOK REVIEWS Land of sweeping plains: Managing and restoring the native grasslands of south-eastern Australia

Williams, N., Marshall, A. and Morgan, J. (eds) CSIRO Publishing, Paperback, RRP $59.95, 472 pages.

Lowland Grasslands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in Australia. They are also one of the most-studied and best understood. Because Europeans chose to settle and exploit the grassy plains, many grasslands are close to where our major urban centres developed. Many people interact with grasslands every day, and in many published literature, others showing The book contains very few errors, and different ways. new data brought together for this none are serious. My main quibbles book. The authors of each chapter are that the order of the chapters This new book explores those are experts in their fields, and their seems slightly out-of-sequence to my interactions, and what they mean for depth of knowledge and passion is mind, and I would have preferred an the grasslands and for us. It is aimed always evident. introduction that placed the grasslands at anyone who is passionate about to be dealt with in a clearer ecological grasslands, and would be valuable The text is interspersed with many and geographic context, before diving for managers, farmers, academics double-page ‘boxes’ that look at into the social aspects. and enthusiasts in equal measure. particular places, people or species. The book includes chapters on basic These provide enjoyable detail and When I first picked up this book, I was grassland ecology, wildlife, management, anecdote, and must have taken a concerned that the obvious focus on restoration, monitoring techniques great deal of research to compile. I individual people and their opinions and their application, and a set of enjoyed these immensely, my personal might make it parochial and cliquey, chapters that explore the many ways favourite being the reproduction of and perhaps render it more quickly out people interact with grasslands. Jim Willis’ hand-written letter pleading of date. On reflection, I think this is the The chapters with a social focus are the case for the reservation of the major strength of the book. It screams particularly diverse, focussing on the Evans Street Grassland in Sunbury out: ‘This is what we all have, this is roles of traditional Indigenous managers, in 1984. what we are doing right now, and we farmers, urban residents, agency and challenge you to do it better!’ Another highlight is the series of boxes contract managers, scientists, volunteers that describe the management of the The social and personal focus gives the and ‘friends’, and the application of book a sense of life and momentum. current environmental laws. Oddie’s family farm at Chepstowe (south-west of Ballarat), with I suspect the authors would love to contributions from the landowner and The book is bold in its embrace of both confront a second edition in a few years several experts describing in detail the the ecological and social sciences, and time and find that a major overhaul is intricacies of grassland management its insistence that these two stories needed because the field has progressed in this single case. These boxes cover must be told together. Everyone has a so far. Here’s hoping this book spurs management philosophies, objectives- place, and the picture painted of the some of that positive change. • PW grassland conservation movement is setting, management techniques, mostly positive, vibrant and inclusive. monitoring, collaboration with Review by Steve Sinclair, Plant Ecologist Every chapter is richly illustrated with scientists, and interactions with the at the Arthur Rylah Institute for photographs and charts, some from the broader community. Environmental Research.

36 PARK WATCH • JUNE 2015 NO 261 Let the Origins of the grasslands book land speak: Lowland temperate grasslands are among Australia’s most poorly A history of Australia – conserved ecosystems. Less than one per cent of their extent at the time how the land created of European settlement remains. our nation The continuing urban development in the western and northern suburbs of Melbourne has led to the recent By Jackie French creation of numerous grassland Harper Collins, 2013, RRP $45.00 reserves managed by agencies and organisations with variable skills and From an evocative story about the first She also argues that the role Indigenous experience. There the grasslands woman coming to our coast 60,000 women had in shaping the landscape, provide opportunities for the many people now living nearby to access years ago, to goat droppings that saved which included the digging of yams high quality open space and to Captain Cook when the Endeavour and the use of plantings as signposts for connect with their local landscape. was holed on the Barrier Reef, to certain foods, is at least as important as predictions for the next 100 years, fire-stick farming. Greater community appreciation Jackie French has written a mighty On a totally different tack (or is it?), and understanding of our critically tome in Let the land speak. who would think that pumpkin scones endangered native grasslands and their ecology, and an upgrading of French is reinterpreting our history were worthy of any reflection. But management expertise, is key to much as historian, Henry Reynolds, French argues that you can tell a lot their persistence. has helped us see a post-contact history about our connection to the land from that includes the Indigenous nations we what we eat, what we cook and don’t To achieve this, the community invaded. This time it is a focus on the cook, and our ‘iconic’ food of damper, and grassland managers need to land itself and how it has shaped who pumpkin scones, Anzac biscuits and be able to access authoritative we are today. lamingtons. History in an afternoon information in an attractive format tea, says French. so they can identify and understand French has a very strong sense of grasslands. To address this need, the place both at a local level and with our Understand the history of pumpkins and Myer Foundation has funded three continent. For more than 40 years she you go some way towards understanding University of Melbourne grassland has lived and worked in the Araluen the history of land settlement in Australia, projects. Valley and the Deua River Wilderness writes French. Pumpkins: would grow Area southeast of Canberra. She’s seen where no other familiar vegetables The first to be completed is Land it change and evolve through droughts survived, from arid lands to tropics to of sweeping plains, the grasslands and floods, mines and settlements. It is Tasmania; could be cooked without guide that Steve Sinclair has a place she loves dearly, delights in its ovens just in their own skin; would last; reviewed on the opposite page. beauty and is keenly observant of its and took very little work. The guide is intended to synthesise changes; it has provided the basis for ‘Plant a seed in the silt after a flood, go and present in an accessible and many of her more than 100 books. attractive format, vital information droving for six months and you’d find a and latest technical research for use She also has a feminist perspective crop when you came back.’ by all those involved in grassland (though she may not call it that). It French is one of those people who restoration and management. Based was refreshing and inclusive for me, as on Steve’s review, it looks like the a woman, when she writes of the first can tell the big picture and illustrate it editors and chapter authors have families to come here – the first boat with a story, surely the art of the best succeeded. people – from the woman’s point of view. historians. She is a modern polymath It is a woman who describes the journey and renaissance person. The other two projects are a new for her family, the children’s needs in As for Cook’s goat, why our first colony edition of the book, Plains wandering, the boat when they are three days from which is a field guide to the flora of didn’t starve, the bronzed Anzacs and south-eastern Australia’s grasslands, land they left, seeing the first land-based how we almost won Eureka, you’ll just and a smartphone app with ‘live’ birds and wondering what food will have to read the book. • PW grasslands information. be available. While this is a fictional approach it makes this epic journey that Review by Karen Alexander, one of we can never know, feel real. Australia’s leading environmentalists.

PARKPARK WATCH WATCH • JUNE • JUNE 2015 2015 NO NO 261 261 37 37 38 Geelong-based are now one, with anew faced the trawler Afterseeing successfully theoff super and dolphins Super trawler killing seals • • • • • urging Victorian the Government to: causedbeing by pipi and harvesting is required to resolve environmental the issues VNPA that believes urgent is action limited available. science very the is sustainable cannot supported be by The agency's claimsthat pipi harvesting by promoting commercial harvesting. now pressure increased the on pipis recreational pipi and harvesting has Fisheries Victoria has poorly managed like endangered the plover. hooded and disturbance the of beach-nesting birds for shorebirds such as pied the oystercatcher, harvesters accessing loss the of beach, the food dunecoastal habitats from recreational impacts of pipi are harvesting damage to Along with declining pipi stocks, collateral the parks was irresponsible. commercial coastal inthe harvesting in dramatic decline, decision the on – and amid signs that pipi numbers are Bay during beaches weekends Christmas 2,000 harvesters can converge on Venus the recreational –from harvesting 1,000to Already under enormous pressure from for pipis on Victoria's beaches. community concerns about future the Napthine Government intensified last year,caretaker period then the justBay parks coastal days before the Liptrap inCape harvesting and Discovery arrangements for commercial pipi When management it announced new coastal updates Marine and harvesting in coastal parks. incoastal harvesting appropriateness the review of pipi sustainabilityecological of pipi harvesting conduct acomprehensive assessment of the program monitoring pipi establish an ongoing science-based recovery and assist scientific studies recreational to harvesting allow pipi of parks parts coastal to the cose commercial pipi parks incoastal harvesting introduce a12-month moratorium on PARK WATCH FV Margiris FV Geelong Star Pipi harvesters dig a long trench trench Pipi digalong harvesters • , marine campaigners JUNE 2015 JUNE to gather pipisat Venus Bay in December 2013. in December2013. .

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in May that would both shut be down. delighted with announcement the by Alcoa and coalmine powerAnglesea station were Campaigners advocating closure the of the a stepcloser Protection ofAngleseaheathlands FV Geelong Star trips inlate April and early May, the dolphins. In inits fact, firsttwo fishing suchother species as albatrosses, and seals and processing fish, catch also but they Super trawlers are efficient very at catching Queensland to Western Australia. Fishery, extends which from southern waters and is targeting Pelagics Small the largestthe trawler fishing in Australian go to up to date on issue the you should spoke at Melbourne the rally. To keep trawlers into Australia’s fisheries and FV Geelong Star protesting of the entry the on aNational Day of Action inApril VNPA joined with many other groups deaths as ‘unacceptable and outrageous’. Environment,the Greg Hunt, the labelled and Federal four Minister seals. fur for At 95metres long, the sending fishersthe artisanal wall. to in Africa commercial fishers out of business and other of parts world, the putting European Super trawlers have devastated fish stocks in www.stopthetrawler.net killed eight dolphins killed and any other super FV Geelong Star

is is precious-anglesea-heathlands eletter/please-protect-victoria%27s- You can at dothis through on commitment. their Neville,Lisa urging to them follow and Minister for Environment, the an emailSend to Premier Daniel Andrews government to deliver on that commitment. announcement clears way the for the heathlands to national the park. TheAlcoa Government committed to adding the At Andrews the 2014election, the of international significance. orchid and species, are asset an ecological of plants, including over 100different containwildlife. They morethan 700 species diversehighly flora and abundance of native biodiversity value, interms both of the Register of National the Estate for their heathlandsThe Anglesea are listed the on heathlands. of the area includes more than 7,000hectares the lease of already TheAlcoa closed). aluminium smelter at (it PtHenry has suppliedwhich to Alcoa's energy heathlands to power the fuel station by clearing 300hectares of Anglesea the The existing mineopen-cut was created air pollution inAnglesea. mine and power station, and reduce employing 80workers the from the rehabilitate mine by coal the potentially Greaterin the Otway National Park, http://vnpa.org.au/ heathlands heathlands Anglesea the to include opportunity remarkable represents a This now

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PHOTO: FRIENDS OF VENUS BAY PENINSULA D O U G RALPH A Tribute

10 JULY 1948 – 24 FEBRUARY 2015

BERNARD SLATTERY, FROM CASTLEMAINE’S FRIENDS OF THE BOX IRONBARK FORESTS, REMEMBERS A MODEL CAMPAIGNER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. PHOTO: JOHN ELLIS PHOTO:

Central Victorians are mourning monthly guided walks. He played a key of the region. He was impatient with the death of one of the state’s most role in the design and implementation the glamorisation of gold, and appalled respected environmental leaders, of the first stage of the Great Dividing at the damage mining had done to the Doug Ralph, who died of a heart Trail, a walking track linking Bendigo Victorian woodlands, which he observed attack at his home in Castlemaine and Ballarat. He was an unpaid slowly repairing themselves through in March. consultant on ecology and cultural natural regeneration, but was insatiably history to park rangers, university curious about the mining life. His father Doug was founding president of the teachers and shire councillors. His had been a miner, quarryman and forest Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests, was the number to ring about a snake worker, and he had enormous empathy and of the Connecting Country caught in garden netting, the stability for the lives people carved out on the land restoration program, and was of a mine shaft, or the wisdom of a goldfields. He had a unique ability to a founding member of the Bendigo development proposal. feel both sides of environmental debates, branch of the Greens. He was which made him in many ways a model celebrated for the influence he built Although one-to-one conversation was campaigner for the environment. through quiet, friendly conversation his style, Doug was active in public in street corner encounters rather forums, stood for Parliament four A large crowd gathered at the than through speeches in public times, and participated in innumerable Castlemaine Botanical Gardens on confrontations. A fifth-generation local, consultations on fire, planning and land 7 March to honour this ‘elder of the he seemed to know everyone around management. He co-authored a local environment movement’. Three years ago Castlemaine, but his easy manner also history, Vagabond, the story of Charles Doug had been hit by a falling branch at enabled him to establish connections Sanger, created an environmental blog, these gardens. He’d been amused at the with newcomers. Central Victorian Ecology, and ran a irony of a ‘tree hugger’ like himself being history program on local radio. injured in this way, but did point out Doug’s knowledge of the country that it was an exotic tree. This time, at from Mount Alexander to the Fryers Doug was born in Castlemaine in the height of the memorial proceedings, Ranges and from Taradale to Mount 1948 and grew up in a miner’s cottage a large flock of Corellas wheeled twice Tarrengower was unequalled, and he near Chewton. He was a voracious about the gathering before flying into was generous in sharing it. Hundreds of researcher of local history, and dreamed the distance. Doug would have liked that people learned of its secrets through his of writing an environmental history flock of birds.• PW

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