COASTAL NATURE UNDER THREAT MARCH 2014 NO 256 STATE ELECTION CAMPERS ARE NOT JUST USERS GREAT FOREST NP START WITH THE GRASSLANDS SHARING NATURE WITH CHILDREN ALPS CATTLE UPDATE STOP PRESS

Many thanks to the 240 VNPA members and friends who completed the recent Parks Victoria survey and chose to make a $10 donation to the VNPA – a great grand total of $2,400! Be part of nature

PRESIDENT Russell Costello DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel CONTENTS Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 4-5 The sad state of Victoria’s ABN 34 217 717 593 environmental policy Telephone: (03) 9347 5188 Facsimile: (03) 9347 5199 6-7 Campers are not just users E-mail: [email protected] 8-9 Needed: A new national park Web: www.vnpa.org.au 10-11 Vegetation clearing gets green light VNPA’S VISION We share a vision of Victoria as a place with a diverse, secure and 12-13 Framing the plains and packaging remnants healthy natural environment cared for and appreciated by all. 14 Start with the grasslands: design guidelines to support native grasslands in urban areas EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Matt Ruchel, Philip Ingamells, Michael Howes. 14 A new sign of intention to care ADVERTISING 15 Reclaiming a celestial garden Emily Clough, [email protected] 16-17 Alpine grazing: How $50,000 buys GETTING INVOLVED IN VNPA $1,000,000 ... or more Everyone can help in the conservation of Victoria’s wild and beautiful places. 18 Stirling link road objection continues You can: 19-22 Victoria’s coastal nature under threat • make a donation • become a regular giver or member 23 Children’s poetry and the great outdoors • volunteer. You’ll be welcome in the office, on a campaign or in a park 24-25 • leave a bequest to VNPA in your will. Sharing nature with children 26-27 More wildlife for the Wimmera? PUBLISHING POLICY All advertisements should be compatible with VNPA policies. Publication 28-29 Fossickers get fossicked of an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of the 30 Spend Easter in a botanical wonderland: advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves the right to refuse any ‘Forests Forever’ Easter ecology camp, advertisement at any time. East Gippsland Park Watch may be quoted without permission provided that acknowledgement is made. The opinions of contributors are not necessarily those of the VNPA Inc. 31 Restoring the Prom’s tracks 32-33 Morwell National Park GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS You’re always welcome to contact the editor to discuss ideas for articles. 34-35 Victoria: State of the Environment Phone the VNPA or email [email protected]. Articles may be Report 2013 submitted by email, on disk or as hard copy. Include your contact details and 36 Book Review – Melbourne’s Water brief biographical information. Photos, maps and drawings are needed too. Digital photos should be 300dpi and around 8cm by 12cm. Catchments: perspectives on a world-class water supply COPY DEADLINE for June 2014 Park Watch is 28 April 2014. 36 Book Review – Born in a tent: DESIGN Mary Ferlin PRINTING Adams Print how camping makes us Australian FRONT COVER 37 Ocean views available to all Victorians love their coast but it faces many threats. This aerial view of the Port Campbell NP coastline shows the narrow strip 38 Doug Humann awarded AM of national park between farmland and the sea, highlighting 38 From Sue Catterall, BWAG the pressures of visitor numbers, access and potential developments on the park. Photo courtesy Parks Victoria. 38 Royal Park: The Last Summer photo exhibition by David Tatnall BACK COVER Come to the Forests Forever Easter camp at Goongerah, 38 On the Sheep’s Back East Gippsland – still happening despite the February fires. photo exhibition by Francis Reiss Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 38 2014 duck rescue

2 PARK WATCH • MARCHDECEMBER 2014 2013 NO NO256 255 From the President PHOTO COURTESY RUSSELL COSTELLO COURTESY PHOTO I was wrong

Well, I suppose my optimism in the On the other hand, cropping paddocks, out of the comedy Little Britain – December Park Watch about this schoolyards and developed areas “Computer says no!” Only this time it’s government’s environmental program like Melbourne Airport are just as ‘yes’ and it’s not funny. We now have was a bit silly. You may remember I likely to be given the highest level of easy clearing and ineffective offsets. reviewed the many fine environmental protection. Here, developers would achievements of past Coalition have to go through the maximum level The Victorian Opposition supported governments from the time of Henry of ecological hoops, whether there’s any a Greens motion in the Victorian Bolte on, as well as those of Labor native vegetation present or not. Upper House to disallow the native governments. vegetation regulations as bad for the Most of our large, magnificent, 400 environment, and also a botched I expressed hope that this being an to 600-year-old paddock trees do not policy. election year, the good things for show up on the computer mapping. Unfortunately, the motion failed the environment would start to flow. Those that are alone or sparsely because the Napthine Government has I was wrong. scattered across the volcanic and control, albeit by a slim majority, in northern plains are afforded little or no As a Yuletide gift to developers, the both Houses of Parliament. Minister for Planning covertly released protection at all and require minimal the new native vegetation controls, offsets. It’s a travesty. It’s a sharp reminder in this election and nobbled the checks and balance year that, whichever way we vote, we The regulations will guide local need to make sure the Upper House provided by the Department of government to say ‘Yes’ to up to 90% of Environment and Primary Industries in the State Parliament is a strong the clearing applications they receive. (DEPI) in the past. house of review, not just a rubber Even if they know there is vegetation stamp. • PW In this Park Watch, Brendan Sydes, important to their community, they Executive Officer at the Environment cannot use that fact. It’s like something Russell Costello, VNPA President Defenders Office, explains how and why our native vegetation protection regulations in Victoria have been Welcome to the firstPark Watch for 2014! weakened. At the start of this Victorian election year Chris From Smyth highlights threats to our coast, Matt The thing that strikes me as so stupid the Editor Ruchel reviews the sad state of our environmental about the new ‘no net gain’ policy policies and we reinforce the need for a new is that the significance of native national park in the Central Highlands. vegetation has to be assessed using DEPI’s new statewide computer- Bill Garner shows that campers are not just ‘users’ generated mapping, full of inaccuracies while Ian Lunt and Adrian Marshall describe new and totally unreliable at site scale. approaches to valuing native grassland remnants. I call them ‘Enid Blyton’ maps, We also focus on sharing nature with children although that famous author had to avoid ‘nature deficit disorder’ and review nothing to do with them. Her fiction Victoria’s 2013 State of the Environment report. was high quality and at least children And there’s much more. could believe it. Many thanks to all our contributors, with a special mention of renowned photographer and This unchecked mapping places VNPA member Francis Reiss, who has written countless areas of important vegetation, about a new walk at Mallacoota and whose including recognised State biosites and photographs are on display at Box Hill Town mapped sites of ecological significance, Hall. See p. 38. PW as either being not native vegetation or • low risk-based pathway vegetation with Michael Howes PHOTO: MARY FERLIN MARY PHOTO: the lowest level of protection.

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 3 The sad state of Victoria’s environmental policy PHOTO: MATT RUCHEL MATT PHOTO: Much of Victoria’s farmland has weeds, dead trees and few signs of regeneration. We need robust regulations to protect habitat and vegetation on private land.

The November 2010 state The trial was so poorly constructed While the Napthine Government did election, which the Coalition won and delivered that it was easy for the provide increased resources for landcare unexpectedly, now seems a distant federal Labor government to block the and local on-ground activities, the lack of memory. The Coalition won by just move. The state tried to ignore national any policy framework opened the way for one seat, but in some ways more environmental laws, then took the a range of radical and regressive policies importantly it also got control of the unprecedented step of challenging the to be pulled out of the bottom drawer, Upper House. decision in the Federal Court. It lost brushed off and re-launched under the the case. guise of ‘Environmental Partnerships’. It’s now 2014, so it’s important to reflect on Victoria’s progress on environmental What’s worse is that the state hasn’t The Partnerships policy was released issues over the last three and a bit years. given up, launching a new bid in two years after the Coalition gained November 2013 with many of the same office. It did two things. First, it packaged The 2010 election was light on flaws. (See Phil Ingamells’ article on p. up most of the routine environmental environmental policy from both major 16 for details.) functions of government and previous parties. The Coalition in particular programs and its agencies as some sort of failed to release any comprehensive At the last election, the Coalition did policy framework, and secondly, it made environment policy at all before the poll, commit to retaining the Victorian a series of radical backward-looking even though they had said they would. Environmental Assessment Council policy commitments affecting the integrity of parks, our approach to native The policy they did release included (VEAC), also backed by Labor, and vegetation, and cuts to the public service, the return of cattle grazing to Victoria’s retaining Catchment Management particularly to Parks Victoria. Alpine National Park, which was Authorities in their current form. The pursued somewhat hamfistedly but VNPA welcomed both commitments. Minister Ryan Smith gave an insight into with vigour from their first few months One of the government’s few firm the government’s approach in the media in office. release launching the policy in November conservation commitments made 2012. He said: The attempt to return cattle to the park before the last election was to under the guise of a scientific trial – undertake two new VEAC inquiries. “Unlike the policies of others, it does not set often compared to a domestic version One, on marine parks, has commenced; goals and targets that are uncosted, have of Japanese whaling – used science the second, on freshwater-dependent no chance of being met, or ignore the real to dress up what was widely seen as a ecosystems, wetlands, rivers, estuaries issues of jobs and cost of living concerns. It’s political or economic move to support and groundwater, has been dropped, not about locking up Victoria’s environment cattlemen mates. with no substantive reason given. so no one can enjoy it.”

4 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Alpine NP near Mt McKay after the 2003 fires. Cattle were removed from all burnt areas shortly afterwards, and The second area of radical ‘reform’ from the park dressed up in the Environmental completely in Partnerships policy has been the opening 2005. up of parks for potential commercial development. On Easter Sunday in 2013, the government revealed a new policy including proposed amendments to the National Parks Act 1975 allowing 99-year leases in two-thirds of the National Parks estate. The same place in December This was passed by virtue of the 2013. Good recovery in government’s majority in the Upper the absence House. The move was innocuously of cattle, but described in the Partnerships policy as Snow Gum about “Developing new guidelines to regeneration is support appropriate environmentally slow. sensitive private sector tourism investment in national parks”.

The policy and the move to change legislation to allow 99-year leases were attacked by conservation groups and many others. An open letter by 25 eminent Victorians, including a former

PHOTOS: KAREN ALEXANDER KAREN PHOTOS: governor and Nobel prize winners, stated:

“The most insidious of all these intrusive uses are the proposals of the Victorian In other words, commit to nothing It’s not just ecologists and the government to lease areas within our that a government can be made community who are concerned. national parks for up to ninety-nine years accountable for or measured against. The independent Sustainability to encourage commercial development by Since the policy has been released, Commissioner’s 2013 State of the private corporations. Government policy we have had glossy updates issued in Environment Report highlighted an on- that starts the journey of incremental early November 2013: ‘Environmental going loss of native vegetation: “... losses privatisation and commercialisation of Partnerships – One Year On’. We in native vegetation extent from clearance national parks would be a betrayal of assume we’ll get another of these a few on private land are likely to have exceeded public trust.” weeks out from this year’s election. gains from revegetation and natural regeneration”. Neither changes to native vegetation rules Of the raft of backward steps, a nor changing legislation to open parks for couple are worth special notice. So like federal attempts to wind back commercial development were election national environmental laws, the promises, but the Coalition Government The gutting of the state’s native idea that these streamlining exercises went ahead anyway. Cattle grazing in vegetation regulations is particularly will “... get better outcomes for the the Alpine National Park was an election significant. This was presented under environment” is hollow. In fact, the promise, though a bad idea, and the the guise of ‘effectively designed opposite will be the case, in our view government has pursued it vigorously – environmental regulation’, which and that of many others. even in the face of widespread criticism is seemingly current policy-speak and critique. for watering down regulation. (See One consistent failing of the Victorian Brendan Sydes’ article on p. 10.) government over the last three years has It appears that the political trick these been a failure to listen or seek advice. days, especially when it comes to the The new regulations, now in place, This was never truer than in the drafting environment, is to say as little as possible are widely criticised by ecologists of the native vegetation regulations, and dress up policy with heavy spin, and community groups alike. In a where the outcomes of consultation and gobbledygook and glossy documents. joint statement, 105 ecologists and specialist advice were ignored. scientists and 70 community-based Our unique natural heritage deserves, and environment groups from across Likewise, the Premier and Environment needs, much better. The VNPA is calling Victoria have expressed fears that Minister have largely refused to meet on all political parties to have detailed the new regulations will lead to more with peak environment groups, with the comprehensive policies on all aspects of the land clearing and damage threatened exception of a couple of brief meetings environment developed and available well species habitat. in the Coalition’s first months in office. before the November 2014 polls. • PW

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 5 Campers are not just users

ALONG WITH THE VNPA AND MOST CAMPERS, BILL GARNER – HISTORIAN, PLAYWRIGHT, SCREENWRITER AND CAMPER – OPPOSES THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO IMPOSE OR INCREASE CAMPING

FEES IN NATIONAL PARKS. BILL GARNER COURTESY PHOTOS COLOUR Bill Garner in his preferred habitat.

The term ‘user pays’ is one of the Campers are not just passive consumers Such behaviour is not the result of park uglier expressions in the modern of services but are active agents in rules or ranger presence but because economic lexicon. Its defenders sustaining national parks in line with the campers have a strong interest in implicitly claim for it some sort of purposes for which these publicly owned preserving places they love. It is also ethical status but in a coded way they lands were originally reserved. They an act of simple decency. When some are also drawing on the vernacular are, in fact, custodians of national parks. campers leave a mess, break off branches understanding of a ‘user’ as someone and so on, no one is more distressed who selfishly takes more than their If this were recognised by the than other campers (just read the online share without putting anything back. government, the management costs forums on this topic). camping incurs would have to be Free campers in our national parks are balanced against the cultural benefits The history of camping in Australia is conveniently branded as ‘users’ who it provides. As it is, projected costs in instructive because it shows how campers enjoy unfair advantages at the expense the Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) have adapted. Digging trenches around of others. Alongside this, the ‘fair go’ suggest considerable ‘gold plating’ by tents and using saplings to make frames mantra of competitive neutrality is Parks Victoria in providing services and bush furniture was once normal. invoked to justify huge increases in that campers do not actually want. But in the past half century camping camping fees, supposedly in order to practice has changed radically, partly with protect commercial operators. Many volunteer bodies take an new technology, but also informed by a accepted custodianship role: from growing environmental consciousness. Such views reduce campers to nothing the various Friends organisations to more than purchasers of services in camp hosts and those bushwalking, Campers accept that they bear a a privatised market. This is to totally field naturalist groups and 4WD clubs responsibility for the condition of the disregard both the special status of whose members volunteer to help bush and everything in it, especially national parks and camping’s role maintain the parks. Parks Victoria national parks. It is our publicly owned as a living expression of our cultural doesn’t just encourage such activity; it land. And we expect our taxes to pay for heritage. depends on it. But ordinary campers the upkeep of it. too are collaborators in this caring So what is this cultural heritage? It is engagement with country. Even the government’s own Cost nothing less than a re-enactment of Recovery Guidelines recognise that Australia’s foundation story. Camping As well as sustaining the cultural there are some things which should not was the way generations of settlers heritage of camping itself, campers be expected to recover costs. Cultural came to know and love this country; help sustain the natural environment, heritage is one of them. it was the way they acquired an for they tend to be strong understanding of its unique flora and environmentalists. The vast majority As the RIS proclaims, one of the main fauna; it was around the campfire scrupulously avoid damaging campsites roles of national parks is to protect that our values of self-reliance and and their surrounds. Most leave sites cultural heritage. In Australia, camping is egalitarianism were reinforced. Every clean, ready for the next occupants. a crucial part of that heritage: it connects time we camp we exercise this tradition. That is an old tradition. us to our land and to our past.

6 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 PHOTO: MUSEUM VICTORIA

Camping involves a lot of sitting and thinking.

PHOTO: MUSEUM A clear manifestation of campers’ VICTORIA caring for country is the willing acceptance of ‘Leave No Trace’. Although this is publicised by Parks Top: Camping in Gippsland, Victoria and encouraged by the absence around 1910. of rubbish bins, its implementation Centre: Field Naturalists’ depends entirely on the goodwill of camp in the campers. And it works. It is part of the Upper Yarra, 1906. free camping exchange. Lower: Pioneer settlers in That is the deal: free camping demands Western Australia.

responsible camping. Parks Victoria PHOTO: LIBRARYSTATE OFWA knows this. We are inescapably in this together. That is what camping is about. It is that if the ecology of this continent not a luxury holiday where everything is to be sustained, something like the Now consider what happens when is done for you. The whole point of Aboriginal practice of custodianship of you introduce fees based on a ‘user camping is that you do it for yourself. country needs to be adopted by pays’ principle. The deal is changed. Including, where necessary, digging settler Australians. Why should campers take away their your own toilet. own rubbish if someone is extracting Camping is something that, without a fee from them for services? And Quite apart from the financial cultural appropriation, crosses the even where low fees are mooted, the irrationality of imposing fees that it settlement divide and connects all of question still arises as to what the fee will cost more to collect than can ever us to country. might be for. be recovered, raising and introducing fees changes the ethical balance, With a greater understanding of this Traditionally, a basic fee (such as at undermining the shared responsibility shared heritage, campers might come municipal campgrounds) was levied for national parks and the natural to be seen less as ‘users’ and more as simply as payment for a place to camp. environment in general. model citizens for a more sustainable Ramping up ‘service’ charges is simply future. • PW an ideologically driven substitute for It’s interesting that in the USA, where applying general taxation revenues, and Leave No Trace originated in the early Bill Garner’s recent history of Australian often a means of blatant cost shifting. 1990s, discussion has now extended to camping Born in a Tent: how camping the way the policy could point to a much makes us Australian (see review on p. 36) Most campers make it clear that they broader notion of citizen participation is based on his highly awarded PhD thesis do not want more or better services. and environmental responsibility. Land of Camps: the ephemeral settlement This is not because they wish to avoid of Australia. Currently he is a researcher paying fees but because they like to do In his wonderful book The Greatest in Social and Political Sciences at the things for themselves. Estate on Earth, Bill Gammage argues University of Melbourne.

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 7 NEEDED: A new national park

Calls are growing for the establishment of a new Great Forest National Park in Victoria’s Central Highlands to protect forests, Melbourne’s water catchments, and endangered species from logging. The VNPA and other environment groups have been joined by the National Trust and Victoria’s pre-eminent scientific body the Royal Society to call for urgent and comprehensive action to protect Leadbeater’s Possum. Groups are alarmed at the slow pace of action from an advisory group created to aid the recovery of the endangered possum. Established in June last year, the Leadbeater’s Possum Advisory Group is run by Zoos Victoria and the Victorian Association of Forest Industries. It was expected to report in December, but this has been delayed. The advisory group has also been charged with developing a plan that preserves and maintains a ‘sustainable’ timber industry, without questioning or assessing whether the industry as it currently operates is in fact sustainable. Groups are concerned that some of the expert advice provided to the committee has been watered down or politically interfered with, and that the forestry industry has essentially captured the process. • PW For more information, and to take action, visit www.greenedge.vnpa.org.au Matt Ruchel PHOTO: MATT RUCHEL MATT PHOTO:

INITIAL CONCEPT MAP

8 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 MAP DEVELOPED BY LOCAL ENVIRONMENT GROUPS AND THE WILDERNESSTHE ENVIRONMENT AND GROUPS SOCIETY LOCAL BY DEVELOPED MAP Much of the Central Highlands is still beautiful pristine bushland and rainforest, though some rehabilitation work will be needed in logged and burnt areas. PHOTO: MATT RUCHEL MATT PHOTO:

MARCH 2014 9

PHOTO: MATT RUCHEL MATT PHOTO: PARK WATCH • NO 256 PHOTO COURTESY SARAH REES, MYENVIRONMENT REES, SARAH COURTESY PHOTO Vegetation clearing gets green light

BRENDAN SYDES, LAWYER AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT THE ENVIRONMENT DEFENDERS OFFICE, EXPLAINS HOW AND WHY NATIVE VEGETATION PROTECTION IN VICTORIA HAS BEEN WEAKENED.

You may not have noticed, but on Friday 20 December 2013 the Victorian government gazetted far- reaching changes to Victoria’s native vegetation clearing regulations.

The ‘permitted clearing regulations’ (the Department of Environment and Primary Industry’s, or DEPI’s, new preferred title for the regulations) represent a significant winding back of the protection of native vegetation in Victoria. EDO Victoria, the VNPA, and many concerned groups and individuals have worked hard over the last 18 months to point out the problems with the changes. A major issue is VNPA PHOTO: the substitution of computer-based These remnant strips of roadside vegetation in northern Victoria remind us mapping for actual on-site assessment why effective protection of native vegetation is so vital. of the significance of remnant vegetation. Native vegetation clearing controls were In fact the Department has always first introduced in Victoria in 1989. been the key decision-making body Under the system (‘the blue map of Unlike other states, Victoria has always on clearing permits above a certain death’ as some are calling it), most implemented these regulations through threshold. Councils ‘refer’ clearing vegetation in Victoria is classed as planning schemes. What this means applications to the Department, ‘low priority’ and will be allowed to be in practice is that the native vegetation which then decides whether a cleared provided an offset is paid. regulations hang from a very thin thread permit should be issued, and if so on what conditions. Its decision is In fact, the system could now be more of a single clause inserted into all local binding on the council. accurately described as an offsetting planning schemes in Victoria. system rather than a system of native This ensures that the responsibilities A key feature of these schemes has vegetation protection. Under the of key agencies with an interest new system, the policy of ‘no net always been that while permit decisions in the shape and form of land use loss’ institutionalises a system of are, as a matter of formality, made and development proposals are exchange that sees ever-dwindling by local councils, the environment integrated into the planning areas of remnant vegetation traded for department has always been a referral permit process. sometimes highly tenuous gains in the authority for vegetation clearing form of improvements to vegetation applications, and so has been ultimately VicRoads gets to call the shots somewhere else. responsible for the decision. on issues to do with roads, water

10 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 authorities on water supply and These reforms included changes to procedures – rather than a coherent drainage. And, at least until recently, the referral authority system to create system of ‘proper’ regulation. DEPI and its predecessors called the two categories of referral authority: shots on vegetation clearing. ‘determining referral authorities’, Having the Department at the controls which can refuse permits or insist at least brought some semblance of The track record of the Department on conditions, and ‘recommending order to the chaos. Now they’re on the in actually using its power as a referral referral authorities’, which only get to sidelines, as a consulting and advising authority is a pretty mixed one. be consulted – they have no decision- ‘recommending referral authority’. However, at the very least, the right making authority, or power to insist on What little protection the new of veto gave the Department a leg to conditions. streamlined system offers to the tiny And DEPI has become a proportion of our native vegetation ‘recommending referral deemed by maps and modelling to be authority’. worth designating as significant is now optional as well – just another thing for The EPA, water authorities, harried council staff to ‘balance’ with VicRoads and others all all the other competing priorities hold the whip hand for under planning. their areas of responsibility as determining referral This is scary stuff when you realise authorities. But not DEPI. that these native vegetation controls are basically all there is for protecting It’s pretty clear that habitat on private land in Victoria (and this was not part of the scarier still when you see some of the Department’s plan. The idea councils charged with administering that it might be dealt out these regulations). of the system in this way certainly did not feature in DEPI has streamlined the system any of the consultation and down to an online database and offsets discussion that preceded market, and then found themselves the announcement of the streamlined out of any significant role clearing controls. in the system.

In retrospect it appears How can this be fixed? One thing that one of the reasons that’s pretty clear is that we need for the significant delay in something better than just grafting introducing the changes biodiversity protection on to the last year was disputation planning system. PHOTO: COURTESY KIRSTY REID/GROW WEST REID/GROW KIRSTY COURTESY PHOTO: between DPCD and DEPI He’s doing his best to plant trees, but how much about what sort of referral Trying to implement effective native vegetation will be left when he’s grown up? authority DEPI should biodiversity protection within another be. The outcome of that department’s legislative scheme does not stand on. Discussions with enthusiastic disputation is now clear: Planning work, especially where that legislative permit applicants and recalcitrant Minister Guy trumped Environment scheme’s focus is primarily councils always occurred in the shadow Minister Smith. on development facilitation. of the possibility that the Department might refuse to issue the permit, or All this is perhaps not surprising. It’s time to take the protection of insist on some stringent conditions. Having streamlined the regulatory remnant vegetation seriously and to system down to something the develop stand-alone native vegetation No more. In a sneaky move, the equivalent of ‘computer says “yes”’, it legislation for Victoria. Department has effectively been dealt was only a short leap to exclude the out of the picture. Department from any significant role It’s only with a stand-alone legislative in its administration. foundation that we’ll get the necessary To understand how this happened, rigour and accountability to develop a you also need to understand that while But the downgrade is highly significant. system of native vegetation protection DEPI was hatching plans to streamline Even before the recent changes, to replace the current travesty native vegetation, the Department Victoria’s system of native vegetation otherwise known as ‘permitted of Planning and Community regulation was mostly to be found in clearing regulations’. • PW Development was hatching its own a sort of legal no-man’s-land of quasi- plans to reform the Planning and legal documents – manuals, guides, brendansydes's blog: Environment Act 1987. frameworks, practice notes and internal www.edovic.org.au/blogs/brendansydes

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 11 Well-designed facilities on native grassland at the Aurora estate near Epping help make the grassland look valued, and make it accessible.

Framing the plains and packaging remnants PHOTO: JAMES NEWMAN, COURTESY MDG LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS COURTESY NEWMAN, JAMES PHOTO:

IAN LUNT IS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AT CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY, ALBURY. THE FOLLOWING REFLECTION ON COMMUNICATING THE VALUES OF NATIVE GRASSLANDS IS AN EDITED VERSION OF A RECENT ARTICLE ON HIS BLOG SITE WWW.IANLUNTECOLOGY.COM

A friend once asked, ‘why do botanists From the landscape scale, the photos and the plant scale, and unintentionally have such terrible gardens?’ in most grassland books skip past the obscure the reality of an endangered patch scale and dive to the plant scale: ecosystem: the reality of remnants, Years later, I think I’ve worked out a to colorful orchids, daisies, lilies and patches, edges, fences, borders and credible response. It’s partly about scale. peas. Many of these were photographed neighbours. The scales at which people see gardens in small remnants, but the remnants and ecosystems. themselves are usually obscured, In retrospect, I wonder – where is hidden by low camera angles. the point of recognition, contact or Take grasslands for example. Close engagement, between this idealised your eyes and picture an iconic native My grassland books showcase a ecological view, and the view of a grassland. What do you see? landscape without remnants (the homeowner with a patch of long grass historical vision) and wondrous behind the fence? For the uninitiated, A panorama of treeless plains and plants in remnants, but rarely show the point of contact with an isolated rolling hills? A reserve or small the remnants themselves. The remnant is the patch, not the landscape remnant? Or perhaps a close-up of photographic evidence suggests or plant scale. flowers and grasses? that grassland aficionados don’t see reserves, patches or remnants as being I guess this is why my friend thinks At which scale did the grassland pop particularly attractive, inviting or botanists have such terrible gardens. into your head: the landscape, the patch important. Like smokers, we shun the plain (or reserve) or the individual plant packaging and see only the goodies scale? Take the VNPA’s Plains Wandering, for within. example, which I co-wrote. We begin It’s easy to investigate how botanists at the landscape scale, then dive to the How do we sell our vision to a public do ‘sell’ grasslands to the public, by small scale, with close-ups of iconic who see only the unadorned plain examining the photographs in field plants and animals. The core of the field packaging? guides, articles and extension booklets. guide follows, with photos of hundreds of plant species. Framing the patch All the books say that native grasslands are rare, threatened and restricted to Thetext highlights the precarious Nearly 20 years ago, Joan Nassauer, small remnants, especially in near- existence of grasslands in small a professor of landscape architecture urban areas. But the pictures tell a fragmented remnants, but there are no in the USA, wrote a paper called different story. photos of reserves, remnants or patches Messy Ecosystems, Orderly Frames. in the book. This influential article was studied by It’s customary to start big, at the landscape design students but rarely landscape scale, with breathtaking In selecting our photos, we read by ecologists. Nassauer made the photographs or historical paintings. purposefully magnify the landscape following points.

12 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 A walkway (which connects with a lookout tower) at a native grassland at the Stoneyfield estate helps people enjoy the grassland.

In urban areas, remnant vegetation will be accepted by the public if it looks attractive. Aesthetic values are influenced by culture, and don’t always correspond with ecological values.

We can give our remnants a make-over in either of two ways. We can argue for the beauty within, or air-brush the beauty without.

Ecologists usually rely on the first approach and plead, ‘it may look a bit

tatty but it’s really rare and important, ADRIAN MARSHALL PHOTO: so please look after it’.

Nassauer promotes the second Remnants – or more importantly, the conservationists have made many approach: let’s gift-wrap our remnants cultural frames around remnants – fantastic wins (and suffered many in an attractive package. Her argument have to look good from the outside in. losses). We have fewer remnants now, but more patches are managed for is that the packaging – more than This stuff is old hat for green planners. the contents – signifies that the patch conservation than ever before. The best But many remnants are cared for by remnants provide stellar examples for a belongs in, and is valued by, our people with backgrounds in ecology, society. Orderly frames make ‘messy new generation of grassland guides, the not design, and ecologists traditionally first of which is about to hit the shelves. ecosystems’ socially acceptable. argue that knowledge beats We all know that packaging is presentation. In reality, we need both. Start with the Grasslands: Design Guidelines to Support Native Grasslands in important. Look at cigarettes. The Framing the future world of art also epitomizes the Urban Areas is a wonderful book written by Adrian Marshall and published by the importance of framing (‘packaging’). If framing is so important, why are VNPA. The VNPA is seeking feedback photos of well-presented (or any) on the draft, so please download it (for Joan Nassauer argued that the best patches so rare in grassland books? Why free) and enjoy it. frames are those that reveal human did we ecologists focus on landscape and intention, and signify that a patch is plant scales, and avoid the framed patch, In my view Start with the Grasslands being cared for. She used the term ‘cues the packaged remnant? to care’ to refer to design features that is the most innovative and ground- show that patches are valued by people. There weren’t many reserves when the breaking book on urban grassland first books were written. Most patches conservation ever produced in Australia. These cues include the quality of had a tenuous future and sagging Most of the content is relevant to any fencing, whether edges are mown and fences, if any. It’s no surprise that we fragmented ecosystem, so if you live maintained, and the presence of paths, avoided the edges and snapped plants near a remnant forest, salt-marsh or seats and other signs of human intent. and landscapes instead. heathland, check it out. If you work in Most people view remnants from a conservation planning, you’ll enjoy it distant road, house or footpath, so We can’t use that excuse any and learn something new, no matter many cues to care are on the edges. more. In recent decades, grassland where you live. • PW

Eugene von Guérard, View of the Gippsland Alps from Bushy Park on the River Avon. In the past, native grasslands have been presented either in sweeping views like this, or by individual plants. But remnants are also important.

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 13 IMAGE FROM COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG FROM IMAGE Interpretive signs help explain the value and importance of native grasslands, here at Evans St, Sunbury.

Start with the grasslands A new sign of intention to care PHOTO: ADRIAN MARSHALL PHOTO: In 96 colorful pages, Adrian Marshall describes lots of ways to Design guidelines to support conserve and improve grasslands in urban areas, and to maximize the native grasslands in urban areas environmental and social benefits that remnants provide. With over ADRIAN MARSHALL IS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, WRITER AND EDITOR 100 color pictures, the book AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. HE IS DEVELOPING A GRASSLANDS showcases many examples of great MANAGEMENT GUIDE, AN IPHONE GRASSLANDS APP AND AN EXPANDED conservation design. SECOND EDITION OF THE VNPA’S POPULAR FIELD GUIDE PLAINS WANDERING. The book is structured around Our few remaining good-quality have to dive in to ‘see’ and appreciate seven principles: (1) start with native grasslands, a number of which the environment. Once people do the grasslands (from the earliest are on Melbourne’s western fringe, see, they’re on the way to becoming stage of planning), (2) collaborate, are under increasing pressure, the future stewards of these precious (3) integrate, protect, connect, (4) design for maintenance, (5) particularly as the city expands and landscapes. communicate, (6) let people in, and our population grows. Start with the Grasslands, which has (7) provide cues to care. Remnant grasslands in urban situations been produced in collaboration with Adrian gives a pithy summary of are often subject to dumping, weed the Australian Institute of Landscape cues to care – ‘The more visible invasion, ‘hooning’ and dramatic Architects, also takes what landscape the grassland edge, the more changes in condition, such as architects, ecologists and on-ground visibly it should be cared for’ – and alterations to the natural hydrology. staff have to say, puts forward design emphasizes the importance of But good design can help! guidelines that help make maintenance framing and good communication: easier, cheaper and more effective, Start with the Grasslands reverses The new VNPA online guideStart and offers practical advice on issues with the Grasslands explains how, the unwritten ‘keep out’ code of such as minimising the impact of earlier grassland books. It focuses through strategic planning and weeds and excess nutrient runoff from directly on the points of contact design, grasslands can be successfully surrounding land. between people and ecosystems: on incorporated into new urban and other edges, patches, paths and planning. developments to maintain and allow Start with the Grasslands has been landscape connectivity, and to ensure developed to assist professionals, In doing so, it demonstrates that the impacts of surrounding land- land managers, Friends groups and how good design can improve uses on grasslands are minimised. all those working in the areas of nature conservation and human design, planning and management of interactions with nature. If you At the suburban scale, the guide shows grasslands. • PW want valuable information on how design can be used to promote design and planning, or just want biodiversity and integration with the The VNPA wishes to acknowledge the to spend a leisurely hour gazing at community, to show people care, and to hard work and commitment of Adrian beautiful pictures, it’s a fantastic make these landscapes more attractive, Marshall, who was largely responsible publication. inviting, engaging and educational. for producing Start with the Grasslands. And if you do have a terrible garden, with the support and collaboration of you’ll see how to improve it. Focus People need to physically get into the Australian Institute of Landscape on the packaging, not just the grasslands to see what’s really going Architects, Victorian Chapter goodies within. • PW on. They’re like rainforests, but in environment group. For more information miniature; or like a reef, where you see www.aila.org.au/victoria Ian Lunt

14 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Reclaiming a celestial garden

PARK PROTECTION CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS REPORTS ON PLANS TO RESTORE THE MOUNT BUFFALO CHALET (CLOSED SINCE 2007), AND ASKS WHO IT WILL BE FOR.

Mount Buffalo National Park was first something like its original size. Much more environmentally sensitive visitors, proclaimed in the 1890s, in response of the complex of buildings at the rear with travel patterns that are sustainable to the notion that the mountain’s of the chalet, many now uninhabitable, and less intrusive than other visitor remarkable natural values were a will be demolished if Heritage Victoria segments”. drawcard for tourists to the region. gives its approval. Amid concerns that many young At the time the plateau’s only building, at The VNPA has lent its support to this people are not spending enough (or Bents Lookout near Buffalo Gorge, was process, but we are very worried that any) time in natural surroundings, the ‘Manfield’s Chalet’, a small slab hut not this will be simply a step towards a Chalet could also become very popular unlike the traditional cattlemen’s huts. new tourism development. for schools and other groups as a base for environmental studies, adventure Dubbed the ‘Garden of the Gods’ the We are also concerned that this will activities and recreation. Buffalo Plateau was only reachable by be driven by the tired-old idea that horseback or on foot. Nevertheless, what parks need is facilities for big- Mount Buffalo National Park is well young ‘Guide Alice’ Manfield would spending tourists. served locally by outdoor adventure entertain guests at her parents’ cosy tour operators, offering abseiling, The park, the Chalet and Lake Catani haunt, and introduce them to the many underground river tours, canoeing, campground are actually ideally suited natural wonders of the plateau. cross-country skiing, snow-shoe to two visitor groups in particular: shuffles, nature walks and the By 1910, a road led up the granite slopes backpackers and school groups. to a grand new chalet, a single storey best selection of half day and day building that eventually grew into the According to Tourism Victoria, bushwalks in Victoria. Mount Buffalo Chalet we know today. around 260,000 backpackers currently come to Victoria each year, If a good visitor information centre Over the ensuing years there have contributing some $500 million to the were also incorporated in the been a great many additions and Victorian economy. revamped Chalet, the Victorian transformations, and I can’t help community and visitors from interstate thinking that those 19th century Backpackers generally stay longer and overseas could be very well served promoters of the park might be than other visitors, and have a “higher by one of our oldest, and most loved, dismayed by the hotch-potch of propensity to disperse into regional national parks. buildings now littering the area. Victoria”. And what to do in the footprint of the Thankfully, Parks Victoria has set out Tourism Victoria also says: “Anecdotal old buildings? Restore the Garden of on a process to restore the Chalet to evidence suggests that backpackers are the Gods, of course! • PW

Mount Buffalo Chalet today, from the air. About half of the roof area in this picture will be demolished in Parks Victoria’s planned restoration of the chalet. The Victorian Government has allocated $7.5 million to the project.

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 15 PHOTO: PARKS VICTORIA PARKS PHOTO: Studies have shown that cattle grazing in the alps as a fire abatement practice is Alpine not justified on scientific grounds. grazing

How $50,000 buys $1,000,000 ... or more PHOTO: © MARY FERLIN © MARY PHOTO:

THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT’S ALPINE GRAZING TRIAL IS AN EXPENSIVE FARCE, WASTING VALUABLE FIRE AND LAND MANAGEMENT FUNDS, SAYS PARK PROTECTION PROJECT CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS.

In the lead-up to the last State transect lines in grazed and ungrazed areas And, needless to say, while the promised election, the Mountain Cattlemen’s of the Bogong High Plains. It found that: ‘trial’ can measure grass fuel loads in the Association of Victoria (MCAV) immediate location of the study, it can’t donated $50,000 to the Liberal- “... whatever effects livestock grazing may assess the long-term effects of grazing or National coalition. have on vegetation cover ... they are likely the behaviour of a real bushfire in the alps. to be highly localized, with such effects In turn they won a promise that unlikely to translate into landscape-scale And there is another scientific study the cattle would be returned to the reduction of fire occurrence or severity. The Victorian Government avoids mentioning. Alpine National Park, initially under use of livestock grazing in Australian alpine a ‘scientific trial’ that would, it was environments as a fire abatement practice In 2004 the then Federal Member for claimed, confirm that cattle grazing in is not justified on scientific grounds.” Gippsland, Peter McGauran, handballed the park reduced fire risk in the region. $3 million to the Bushfire Co-operative The cattlemen complained loudly that Research Centre (CRC). The media release This leap by the cattlemen and their the high plains study didn’t apply to the made it clear that in his opinion cattle supporters into the world of science is whole region, including the wooded grazing significantly minimised the an odd one, because they have spent lower slopes. chance of bushfires, and the Bushfire the last few decades discrediting the CRC’s study would: considerable history of alpine science, A second paper, however, analysed the even trying to harm the reputations of considerable amount of remote sensing “... provide a clear indication to the State individual scientists. data (such as satellite imaging) across the Government that grazing for fuel reduction alps for both the 2002-03 and 2006-07 needs to begin immediately to avoid They have scorned two very sensible fires. It found that: another bushfire season like last year.” peer-reviewed and published studies into the effectiveness of grazing in “... crown scorch was strongly related to That was an odd statement, given that the reducing fire in the high country. vegetation type but there was no evidence 2002-03 fire he was referring to raged across Importantly, unlike the current planned that cattle grazing reduced fire severity. the alps when cattle were still in the park. ‘scientific trial’, these studies both There was some evidence that grazing Nevertheless, the Bushfire CRC ran a study measured the impacts of cattle grazing could increase fire severity by possibly for three years, very like the current trial on real bushfires. changing fuel arrays.” proposed by the Victorian government. Studies Neither of these very valuable and highly The study ended inconclusively three years reputable published studies has been later, when the money apparently ran out. The first study, after the 2002-03 alpine mentioned in government documentation Unfortunately no results have ever been fire, looked at both the occurrence justifying the need for the ‘scientific trial’ published, but the Bushfire CRC’s High and the severity of fire along 108km of promised to the cattlemen. Fire webpage says:

16 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Botanist Maisie Fawcett (later Maisie Carr) second from left with cattlemen friends, probably in the 1940s.

The extract below is from 1947:

“Victor Wraith – Harrietville

“Big men – i.e. Wraiths and Treasures do not burn bush – regard fire as an enemy. Treasures do occasionally burn small patch of scrub, but super it heavily afterwards. In Dargo country fires are lit by small men with up to 100 cattle – these are the men who will duff cattle – they burn out of sheer spite towards bigger men.

“Asked Bill Parkes about this. He says people burn because they get flush of good green grass for the cattle. He admits that they do get grass but scrub too which necessitates further burning. He considers that burning ruins the bush, says it is a habit or mania with these cattle blokes to burn. Family convinced that cattle From Maisie’s diary industry can be continued without burning. Fire is the lazy man’s way of Maisie’s ground-breaking research would confirm the considerable damage clearing his block. Litter and dead done by cattle in the high country. Now extracts from her diary expose some stuff is put there by nature to enrich myths about the cattlemen’s land management practices, particularly in the soil – if you burn it you lose it.” relation to recent claims that they inherited Aboriginal burning practices. Diary and photo courtesy of Maisie's diary and letters are being donated to the State Library of Victoria. Maisie’s niece, Marion Manifold.

“... the impact of fire on the vegetation East Gippsland electorate that it would The Victorian Government has now made was able to be measured but the effects save them from fire by putting cattle a proposal to the new Federal Minister, of grazing were much more gradual. back in the Alpine NP, initially as a Greg Hunt, for version 2 of its grazing Hence, the combined effects of fire and ‘scientific’ trial. trial. It’s planned for the beautiful but grazing may take decades to be fully remote Wonnangatta Valley: a relatively apparent.” It’s hard to estimate how much money low-lying river flat that harbours half the has been spent trying to get this known population of the Pale Golden 2010 election ‘scientific’ trial up and running. Initially Moths orchid, a State and Federally listed (in December 2010, within a few weeks threatened species. Given that peer-reviewed published of taking office) the government sent studies have demonstrated that alpine cattle to six sites in the Alpine NP. This time the government does at last have grazing hasn’t reduced bushfires in the an ‘experimental design’, but it’s only a first alps; given the absence of any tested There were no scientists involved, draft and scientists are still bizarrely absent. evidence to the contrary; and given and no design for the trial, and by The design has no stated author at all! the decades of published scientific the time highly paid consultants were studies showing cattle grazing damages sent in to work out where the cattle Initially 60, then 300 cattle are planned for ecological systems in the Alpine NP, had wandered it was already April, the the valley, and though the Wonnangatta you might be forgiven for thinking the cattle were out and the consultants got river flat is prime habitat for a number of issue was dead and buried. caught in the snow. threatened frogs and reptiles, no fauna survey has been done there. But there was an election brewing in Federal involvement 2010, and the independent member The VNPA is currently preparing an for Gippsland, Craig Ingram, had The then Federal Environment Minister estimate of the cost of implementing been a thorn in the side of the Tony Burke, charged with protecting the the State Government’s promise to the Liberal-National coalition. Was it the National Heritage-listed Australian Alps, cattlemen over the last three years, and it cattlemen’s $50,000 donation and their sensibly called a halt. But the somewhat is heading past $1 million. strong connection to the coalition, or jaded Victorian Government challenged was it simply political opportunism? the decision in a court case that proved It will certainly be a very considerable Both, probably, and the coalition went embarrassingly unsuccessful and cost slice of scarce land management funds to the election with a promise to the Victorians $200,000. in Victoria. • PW

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 17 Visual impacts – viewed from Stirling false summit PHOTO: CHARLES STREET. MAPPING: DERIVED FROM METROPOL AND GOOGLE MAPPING: METROPOL MAPS. DERIVED FROM CHARLES STREET. PHOTO: Above: This is a composite image of Corn Hill showing existing and proposed roads connecting Picnic Table (Mt Buller) and Howqua Gap (Mt Stirling). The photographs were taken from the False Summit of Mt Stirling. Stirling link road objection continues

VNPA HON. SECRETARY CHARLES STREET WARNS OF A RENEWED

ROAD PROPOSAL AT MT STIRLING. CHARLES STREET PHOTOS:

In 2008, the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling people would be driven from the Scheme. A meeting we had with the Alpine Resort Management Board fire protection facilities on Mt Buller alpine authorities, and subsequent applied to build a road from through a forest to a forest. exchanges of documents, did not Mt Buller to Mt Stirling, through resolve any of our concerns. old growth alpine forest, across the There is already another road around north face of Corn Hill. The VNPA the south side of Corn Hill. It was This campaign is not just about burned in the bushfire of 2006-07. and others stopped it at the time, saving old-growth alpine forest. It is No road across Corn Hill is safe in but now the proposal has been about saving a whole mountain. The the event of alpine bushfire. revived. We objected again in 2013. VNPA endorses the 2008 review by The principal reason given for We believe the real reason for the the State Services Authority, which building the road is as an emergency road is to make it easier to build recommended that Mt Stirling access route, especially for bushfires. accommodation on Mt Stirling, after be demerged from Mt Buller and There seems no logic in this because a simple amendment to the Planning managed by Parks Victoria. • PW

18 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Oil tanks mar the Hastings foreshore. VICtORIA’S COAStAL NAtURE UNDER tHREAt

Victoria’s coastal nature under threat PHOTO: MATT RUCHEL MATT PHOTO:

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT CHRIS SMYTH IS THE AUTHOR OF THE RECENT VNPA REPORT THE COAST IS UNCLEAR. HE SUMMARISES THE REPORT BELOW; THE FULL REPORT IS ON THE VNPA WEBSITE.

Zoom into Victoria. Pan left. Locate protected areas, it is under enormous Inlet to Altona) and the Gippsland Nelson. Zoom in. Zoom out. Pan pressure from climate change and from Plain (from eastern Melbourne to the right. Find Port Campbell. Zoom in. development fed by population growth. Gippsland Lakes). Zoom out. Pan right again. Identify Bells Beach. Zoom in. Zoom out. Even where there are protected areas With Victoria entering a new phase on the coast, they are often long and of coastal development, including Dunes. Roads. Cliffs. Towns. narrow, accentuating the ‘edge effects’ residential, tourism, industrial and Scrublands. Industry. Wetlands. from adjoining land uses and leading port expansion, the decline in coastal Ports. Estuaries. Cities. Grasslands. to habitat loss, pest invasions and nature is likely to continue, and possibly Clubhouses. Woodlands. Cars and indiscriminate access. accelerate following recent amendments car parks. Forests. Breakwaters. to coastal planning zones and native ‘Long and narrow’ also describes Marshes. Marinas. Shrublands. Walls. vegetation clearing regulations, and coastal Crown Land reserves, the Heathlands. Tracks. with proposals for commercial tourism summer playground for many These are some of the natural and social Victorians and visitors. These reserves development in coastal national parks. infrastructure features seen on a virtual are often only a few metres wide, A click away on Google Earth are journey along the Victorian coast using squeezed between a road and the examples of where these issues are Google Earth, one of the tools used in water’s edge, littered with infrastructure already impacting on the Victorian research for the VNPA’s report, The and swamped by urban, industrial and coast. They include the potential loss coast is unclear, which focuses on the tourist development. (at Port Fairy) of the most important future of Victoria’s coastal nature. The coast is unclear identifies 95 Australian habitat for Latham’s Snipe, Google Earth and vegetation and ecological vegetation classes as being and urban encroachment on the planning scheme maps, data on current within 500 metres of the coast, of remnant Ramsar wetlands of the and historical vegetation coverage, which 69 are either ‘Endangered’ Bellarine Peninsula. strategic planning documents, or ‘Vulnerable’ in at least one of the historical research, media stories bioregions in which they occur. At Bells Beach, internationally iconic and interviews provided the material surfing status brings with it mounting for the report’s narrative. Of the ten bioregions on the coast, visitor pressure, including daily visits by the decline of coastal nature is most touring buses and up to 5,000 spectators The key finding is that although pronounced on the Warrnambool Plain jostling for a spot to watch surfers battle Victoria’s coastal nature is diverse, (between Portland and Princetown), the waves at the Easter Rip Curl Pro and in many places contained within the Otway Plain (largely from Aireys surfing event. Continued on page 22

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 19 VICtORIA’S COAStAL NAtURE UNDER tHREAt MELBOURNE

Nelson Narrawong Torquay Yambuk 3

1 Port Campbell 4 Princetown 5 2 Apollo Bay

1. SOUTH WEST CORNER 4. MELBOURNE'S SA Border to Narrawong TWO BAYS & PENINSULAS • Industrialisation of the coast – wind turbines and other • Major Port e.g. Bay West (western industry, e.g. Alcoa aluminum smelter, Pacific Hydro Port Phillip Bay) & Port of Hastings Portland wind project. expansion in Western Port. • Pressure from adjoining agricultural land use on coastal • Ongoing pressure on remnant coastal nature from urban nature e.g. wetland drainage west of Glenelg River mouth. development and recreational activity e.g. Tootgarook Swamp. • Coastal developments – e.g. Narrawong. • Threats to Ramsar sites on the western shoreline of Port Phillip • Altered coastal processes from Portland Harbour led Bay (housing development), Bellarine Peninsula (extensive to erosion of Dutton Way Beach, roads and houses, urbanisation) and Western Port (port expansion, potential with the prospect of more houses at risk as housing oil spills and increased shipping traffic). development continues. • Loss of habitat in and around Western Port. • Climate change: sea level rise, storm surges, erosion and inundation. 2. SHIPWRECK COAST Yambuk to Princetown • Coastal development threatening species. 5. BASS COAST • Threat of large-scale tourism developments in • Intensification of land use in rural areas and adjoining conservation reserves e.g. Shipwreck Coast adjacent to the coast e.g. tourism development; pressure Master Plan and Port Campbell National Park. to increase the size of coastal towns • Development pressure on remaining wetlands e.g Cape Paterson ecovillage. e.g. Japanese Snipe at Port Fairy, biodiesel plant at Merri • Industrialisation of the coast e.g. desalination plant. Wetlands. • Severe fragmentation of habitats pressuring threatened plants and animals e.g. Yambuk to Port Fairy. • Climate change impacts – sea level rise and coastal 6. SOUTH GIPPSLAND erosion e.g. East Beach, Port Fairy. Inverloch to Wilsons Prom & Corners Inlet • Intensification of landuse in rural areas adjacent to the coast e.g subdivision into lifestyle allotments behind Cape Liptrap Coastal Park. 3. SURFCOAST Apollo Bay to Torquay • Port expansion of Port Anthony. • Population growth and associated coastal • Invasive weeds e.g. Spartina in Anderson Inlet. development and tourism pressure, • Unsustainable Pipi harvesting along Venus Bay. e.g. expansion of Geelong towards Torquay. • Visitation pressure on beach-nesting seabirds • Continued erosion of the values of Bells e.g. hooded plover. Beach and surrounds. • Altered coastal processes e.g. levee banks on edges of • Major upgrade of Great Ocean Road. Anderson Inlet, Corner Inlet.

20 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Mallacoota

Gippsland Lakes 8

Inverloch 7 Ninety-mile Beach Port Anthony Anthony Port

Wilsons Prom Counting fish 6 Reef Watch style

7. NINETY-MILE BEACH & GIPPSLAND LAKES • Major port proposal at McGauran’s Beach • Lakes turning marine from reduced freshwater flows & increased saltwater intrusion from artificially deepened entrance. • Climate change – sea level rise, erosion &

inundation of large areas potentially breaching BOORD JARROD PHOTO: Ninety-mile Beach & causing new entrance to the lakes. The 2013 Great Victorian Fish Count was another huge success. Divers and snorkellers counted fish at over 25 sites across the state, though our no-take 8. EAST GIPPSLAND marine protected areas once again • Bastion Point boat harbor development shone in overall fish abundance and destroying coastal habitat. diversity. • Prescribed burning of fragile remnant habitat at The count collects valuable information Red Bluff, Lake Tyers Beach. about the distribution of a number of species both inside and outside marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. Spectators at Bells Beach surfing events have an impact on the fragile coastal environment. A preliminary look at the count shows that Blue-throat Wrasse were seen in high numbers, followed by Zebra Fish, Scalyfin, Magpie Perch and Old Wife. There were good numbers of Weedy Seadragons at Flinders Pier and a few other locations. However, the Blue Groper stole the show again, the Western variety being spotted at Barwon Bluff MS and the Eastern at Bunurong MNP. A detailed wrap-up of the count will be released later in March, so stay tuned – but in the meantime, take the plunge while the water’s still warm …. ish!

Wendy Roberts, Simon Branigan PHOTO: COURTESY DARREN NOYES-BROWN DARREN COURTESY PHOTO: FERLIN © MARY PHOTO: BACKGROUND

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 21 VICtORIA’S COAStAL NAtURE UNDER tHREAt PHOTO: MATT RUCHEL MATT PHOTO: PHOTO: CLIVE MINTON PHOTO: The port of Hastings is fairly small at present, but the State Government Migratory Red-necked Stints at Western Port. The bay is planning major developments there. is an important Ramsar-listed wading bird habitat.

Continued from page 19

Although by Easter’s end there is just one the Phillip Island Nature Parks, is simply not up to the task of dealing male and one female surfing champion, home to a Little Penguin colony with these issues. ‘Bells’ is fortunate in that throughout that is Victoria’s most visited tourist the year it has many champions in the attraction, and French Island Marine To maintain, protect and enhance recreational surfing community working National Park – to major loss of coastal nature, The coast is unclear to restore and protect it. habitats and damage from oil spills,. makes more than 150 bioregion-specific and statewide recommendations. They are planting shrubs, pulling Western Port is one of more than 100 They include proposals for new and weeds and advocating management bays and estuaries along the Victorian expanded protected areas, strengthened that will protect the site’s marine and coast that are critical to migratory and consistent application of planning coastal nature along with the cultural fish and birds and for commercial scheme tools, and the merging of values of both Traditional Owners and and recreational fishing, and are the committees of management. recreational surfers. lifeblood of coastal communities. They are under enormous pressure Enhancing the protection, maintenance But their work is not yet done, as the from population growth, changes in and restoration of coastal nature will local council and commercial and catchment land use, landfill, urban require collaborative, well-planned, event interests have yet to embrace that targeted and adequately resourced encroachment, declining water essential ‘protection’ concept. actions involving governments, private quality, loss of habitat, divided agency landowners, public land managers and responsibilities and a general lack of Further east, the shallow waters and the community. low-lying shoreline of Western Port formal protection. exhibit most of the impacts that And these actions will need Climate change will also impact on result from coastal and catchment underpinning by the integrated coastal these estuaries and other low-lying development. planning, protection and management coastal areas. Increased flooding and framework flowing from the report’s salinity, erosion of barrier dunes, In the 1960s, then premier Henry Bolte recommended legislative and inundation from storm surges, and dreamt of it becoming the Ruhr of institutional reforms, which include the the removal of beaches, sand dunes, Victoria, an industrial powerhouse and establishment of a Marine and Coastal saltmarshes and mangroves could major shipping port. His dreams may Authority for Victoria. soon be realised if the current Coalition lead to the collapse of ecosystems, government presses ahead with its a major redistribution of coastal Let’s hope that in ten years’ time, users plans to expand the Port of Hastings. plants and animals, and the breaching of Google Earth will see that Victoria of some barrier systems such as the is turning the tide on the decline of its Under the plans, shipping traffic is Gippsland Lakes. coastal nature, and that a better future predicted to increase from the current for the coast is clear. PW 100 ships per year to 3,000. This will Victoria’s overly complex and • expose Western Port’s fragile marine disintegrated framework for coastal For the full report see and coastal environment – including planning, protection and management www.reports.vnpa.org.au

22 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Children’s poetry and the great outdoors

MELBOURNE GP AND KEEN SAILOR STEPHEN WHITESIDE HAS BEEN WRITING RHYMING VERSE FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN FOR MANY YEARS. HIS POEMS ARE WRITTEN TO BE RECITED, OR READ ALOUD.

When I was a boy, my father read me the more inventive, and his range of subject for children, ‘The Billy That Died With Its poems of Banjo Paterson. I loved their matter more diverse. Boots On’ and Other Australian Verse. cheek, their bounce, their love of life, and their celebration of the Australian bush. What particularly enthralled me was that It contains about 60 poems, 15 of which have Dennis had written a wonderful collection been beautifully illustrated with paper cut My father had knocked around Australia of poetry for children, ‘Book for Kids’. designs by first time book illustrator Lauren a bit himself as a lad, and it rubbed off This book has shone like a beacon for Merrick, and covers a wide range of themes on me. He also introduced me to the me in my life, guiding me safely down from the mountains to the ocean, from the Australian bush – trout fishing on the through the years. house and garden to the street, and from Howqua River, skiing at Mt Buller and domestic dogs to wild animals and birds. Mt Hotham, camping, etc. In 1976, at the age of 21, I started writing my own poetry. In the mid 80s I also started There are also poems about Australian heroes I fell in love with the romance of campfire attending, and performing at, folk festivals. (young Ned Kelly, Simpson and his donkey), storytelling, and with Australia’s rich I strove – with mixed results – to fashion the weather, Christmas and dinosaurs. indigenous flora, fauna, and wide open spaces. myself as a ‘modern day troubadour’. There’s even a poem about Martians! As a young man I visited the Victorian high I had always had it in mind that one day The poems are primarily directed to country frequently. Amongst other feats, I I would write for children, and in 1990 I children in Grades 5 and 6, but I am sure climbed Victoria’s highest mountain, Mount finally found the confidence to begin doing younger children (and adults!) will also enjoy Bogong, once a year for nine consecutive so. I attended a conference where a welcome many of the poems in the book. Indeed, years. I found that I never felt more truly stranger outlined a strategy whereby I might I think it is an ideal book for grandparents myself than when I was in that environment. eventually persuade a publisher to accept to share with their grandchildren. An extraordinary feeling of goodwill – a collection of my poetry for children – As much as anything else, the book is euphoria, even – washed over me. my own ‘Book for Kids’. my way of trying to keep alive in the next generation of Australians a love of It was also around this time that I All of this brings me to the purpose of this the bush, a love of all things wild and, discovered the poetry of C. J. Dennis. I article, which is to announce to the world perhaps above all, a love of storytelling. PW loved him even more than Banjo Paterson, at large that in May this year – 24 years on • if that were possible. His characters were – a publisher, Walker Books Australia, will Search for The Billy That Died With Its Boots On more richly drawn, his rhyme schemes indeed publish a collection of my poetry at www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books ILLUSTRATIONS AND EXTRACTS FROM STEPHEN WHITESIDE’S FORTHCOMING BOOK COURTESY WALKER BOOKS. BOOKS. WALKER BOOK COURTESY WHITESIDE’S FORTHCOMING STEPHEN FROM AND EXTRACTS ILLUSTRATIONS

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 23 Caitlin Griffith (centre) and volunteers set up a motion-sensing camera as part of the Hindmarsh project.

More wildlife for the Wimmera?

NEW VNPA NATUREWATCH COORDINATOR CHRISTINE CONNELLY AND CONSULTANT

SCIENTIST RICHARD LOYN REPORT NATUREWATCH COURTESY PHOTO ON LAST YEAR’S TRIAL OF THE 'CAUGHT ON CAMERA' PROJECT IN THE HINDMARSH AREA. • Mali Dunes, Yanac (MD) – • White-winged Choughs and White- Bernie Fox and Sue Hayman-Fox browed Babblers were both found • Snape Reserve, Dimboola (SN) – feeding in revegetation, as well as in remnant vegetation. These are both 'Caught on Camera' involves working Trust for Nature, woodland species whose habitats were with local community groups and Sue and Lindsay Smith greatly reduced by agricultural clearing scientists to establish community- Tarrangaw, Jeparit (TG) – • in the Wimmera. based monitoring of fauna, using Mick and Sue Gawith motion-sensing cameras. • Never Never, Gerang Gerung (NN) – Habitat assessments showed that Karen Werner revegetation was intermediate in structure In 2013, after successfully establishing between cleared land and remnant a Caught on Camera project in the • Gumbinnen, Glenlee (GL) – vegetation. Wombat State Forest and Bunyip State Phil Henseleit Park, the NatureWatch team expanded The value of revegetation can be expected Altogether 3467 survey images were the project’s scope and ran a trial in the to increase over time as structural and taken from 629 camera days of camera Wimmera region. floristic diversity of habitat develop. This trapping, and 2976 images of fauna should produce corresponding changes in were obtained. The images featured The trial, a collaboration between the wildlife populations. VNPA and the Hindmarsh Landcare three species of native mammals, four Network (HLN), was designed to find of introduced mammals and 11 native NatureWatch volunteers and local HLN out what wildlife species are using bird species. staff worked together on the project, the areas revegetated under Project helping to establish the study design Although there is not yet enough data Hindmarsh. Many VNPA members and objectives, carrying out camera- to make definitive inferences, the and friends have been involved in the monitoring activities and identifying the project revealed some encouraging annual Hindmarsh planting weekends. fauna species in the images. signs, including: The Wimmera region has been heavily The trial was very successful and the team • Western Grey Kangaroos made is looking forward to running the project cleared for agriculture and little substantial use of revegetation remnant habitat remains. again in 2014, expanding the scope to • Common Brushtail Possums were include new properties in the study Project Hindmarsh has been very found in revegetation, despite their design, and thus increasing our chances of successful at helping to revegetate need for tree hollows which are not ‘catching’ some of the rare small mammals and restore native vegetation on local expected to develop in planted trees we are hoping to find. landowners’ properties. However, we for many decades We plan to establish Caught on Camera don’t really know what animals are • Echidnas, Common Bronzewings Hindmarsh as a long-term monitoring using the revegetation as habitat. and Painted Button-quail were only project to explore the value of revegetation The Caught on Camera project used detected in revegetation, although on private property for wildlife, and camera-trapping to detect wildlife mostly in low numbers. These monitor how this develops over time. (ground-dwelling mammals and woodland species would usually be A detailed report on the project has just some birds) on selected revegetated expected in remnant vegetation, but been released and is available on the properties, and matched benchmarks of are clearly making use of the new VNPA website. cleared land and remnant vegetation. habitats offered by revegetation. Common Bronzewings and Painted NatureWatch is always looking for new Local landowners welcomed and Button-quail are both known to feed volunteers, so if you’d like to get involved, supported the project, and five on wattle seeds, and these plants are please visit the NatureWatch webpage to properties were monitored: well represented in the revegetation find out more! Or phone the VNPA. • PW 26 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Native mammals Western Grey Kangaroo Getting involved Short-beaked Echidna There’s plenty of opportunities to get involved with Common Brushtail Possum NatureWatch in 2014! Exotic mammals Upcoming activities are: European Hare y March-June: Caught on Camera, Wombat State Forest European Rabbit y April: Grass Tree monitoring, Brisbane Ranges NP Red Fox y May-July: Caught on Camera, Hindmarsh Feral Cat Email [email protected] for more information, or phone 9341 6510 (Thursday and Friday). A Western Grey Kangaroo and two choughs Native birds investigate a bait station and camera. Emu Malleefowl "It’s great to see the growing community interest in Painted Button-quail monitoring and finding out how wildlife responds as Common Bronzewing we help improve the habitat. White-browed Babbler Australian Magpie And just as revegetation takes many years to develop, Grey Currawong so does monitoring. The important thing with both is Willie Wagtail to get started! It's good to see we've taken that first Raven sp. step with the Hindmarsh Landcare Network." White-winged Chough Richard Loyn

Southern Scrub-robin NATUREWATCH COURTESY PHOTOS

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 27 FOSSICKERS get FOSSICKED

Above: This gravel pile in Reedy Creek, Chiltern Mt Pilot NP, looks innocent enough, but Right: A powered pump used to wash creek- it’s actually the result of prospectors digging up the creek bed and washing it through bed gravel through a sluice. The Victorian a sluice, using pumped water. VEAC’s report pointed out that this activity causes great Government has said that this activity will damage to the structure of creek beds and, in turn, the habitat of streambed fauna. no longer be allowed in any national parks. 28 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 PHOTO: PHIL INGAMELLS PHOTO: THE VEAC INQUIRY ON PROSPECTING IN PARKS HAS SHONE THE LIGHT BACK ON THE PROSPECTORS, SOMEWHAT TO THEIR DISADVANTAGE. PARK PROTECTION PROJECT CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS REPORTS.

When the Victorian government It looked squarely at the impacts of Alpine and Eildon national parks and asked the Victorian Environmental prospecting and fossicking, and whether Lerderderg State Park, a considerable Assessment Council (VEAC) to the activity is compatible with the win for the prospectors but nothing like investigate prospecting in national strong nature conservation objectives of what they had hoped for. and state parks, the terms of national and state park management. Errinundra, Baw Baw, Croajingolong, reference were heavily loaded in the Lind, Mitchell River and Yarra Ranges prospectors’ favour. VEAC received 950 submissions (150 of which were from interstate or overseas!), national parks would thankfully remain The question wasn’twhether established a Community Reference out of bounds. prospecting should be allowed Group (the VNPA was represented), The Victorian government has now in parks. conducted site visits to the new parks accepted these recommendations, and as well as parks where prospecting was Rather, VEAC was asked to also acted on some of the other issues already allowed, and commissioned a raised by VEAC. recommend where prospecting should scientific review of the likely impacts of take place within eight national prospecting in streams. Prospectors who currently use powered parks and one state park where it had pumps to help sluice mega-shovelfuls of previously been banned. The review found that there were gravel from streambeds will no longer significant risks associated with the be able to do that in any national park, Prospectors, who were already allowed dispersal of arsenic and mercury including those goldfields parks where it to dig up most parks in the goldfields deposits from historic mining activities. has been happening for many years. area of Central Victoria, could potentially move into the Alpine, There was also the clear potential to Reedy Creek in Chiltern Mount Pilot Baw Baw, Croajingolong, Errinundra, spread pathogens such as Phyophthera National Park will be one place to Lake Eildon, Lind, Mitchell River and chytrid fungus and, potentially, benefit greatly from that decision. and Yarra Ranges national parks, and myrtle rust. The government has also asked for Lerderderg State Park. It also found that significant disturbance more vigilant control of prospecting The inquiry was an apparent victory of stream beds caused real ecological and, in one year’s time, an assessment of for Victoria’s Prospectors and Miners impacts, including turbidity and the prospecting impacts in parks generally. Association, which had worked disruption of streambed ‘armouring’ The VNPA has long been aware of the behind closed doors to convince the – the natural protective hardening of considerable damage prospectors do state government that their activities a streambed surface – which in turn in parks, indeed in many other places were harmless. affects the stability of streams. across the state, and it is high time a light was shone on these practices. The VEAC investigation, despite being Under its terms of reference, VEAC one of the shortest ever (there wasn’t was obliged to recommend prospecting Somewhat ironically, the prospectors even time for a draft report), has in some new parks, but extended this have unwittingly shone that light on nevertheless acted responsibly. to a total of 22,339 hectares in the themselves. • PW

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 29 PHOTO: PHIL INGAMELLS PHOTO: “This is the most diverse area of Spend Easter in a temperate forest I know of on Earth.” botanical wonderland Professor David Bellamy PHOTO: JILL REDWOOD PHOTO: Exploring a gully ‘Forests Forever’ Easter ecology camp, East Gippsland: at Goongerah. it’s still on! 18-21 April.

How about spending Easter in the transition the woodchip industry Bring camping gear, friends, food and heart of SE Australia’s botanical out of our native forests and into transport, maybe fuel as well – the nearest wonderland? plantations. fuel is 70km away. Please leave pets at home. Full camp cost: $60 adults Stretching in an unbroken chain from This Easter, VNPA and Environment $40 concession & teens East Gippsland will be hosting the the ocean to the Alps, East Gippsland’s under 13s free. forests are among some of the most 2014 Forests Forever ecology camp, Daily cost: $25 adults ancient and beautiful in the world. where you can explore and learn about these magnificent forests and $15 concession & teens This diverse corner of Australia their history, both before and after under 13s free. supports a huge variety of forest types European arrival. Email: [email protected] and ecosystems. They store carbon and Info: www.eastgippsland.net.au/forestsforever moderate climate, produce clean water You’ll be awed by the beauty and Phone: Jill Redwood on (03) 5154 0145 in abundance and of course provide complexity of the forests, their antiquity and the size of the remaining giants. Organised by VNPA and critical habitat for many of Victoria’s Environment East Gippsland. endangered wildlife. A range of daily activities will be All proceeds go to help the campaign For decades they have been clearfelled, on offer. Expert biologists and walk to save these forests. and the timber mostly woodchipped leaders will guide short and long for export to overseas paper factories. drives and walks into the forests and rainforests. In the evenings, Note: extensive areas around Goongerah But this controversial industry, camp by the Brodribb River beneath were burnt in the February fires, but at although still operating, is now at a peppermint and manna gums, this stage the camp is still going ahead. turning point. enjoy wholesome homemade soups, It is a great opportunity to find out spotlight for nightlife or take part in about the fires and their effects and Environmental campaigns, legal evening botanical entertainment and management. Much of the Errinundra challenges and changing consumer learn how to save the forests from Plateau, and other areas, remain unburnt. markets are now all impacting to your own home. And more! • PW

30 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Macalister Creek area along lighthouse track in November 2013, showing restoration after fire and flood. Restoring the Prom’s tracks PHOTO: MIKE FELLER PHOTO:

VNPA VOLUNTEER EVELYN FELLER AND HUSBAND MIKE, A VNPA COUNCILLOR, LIVE AT HEALESVILLE AND ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN LOCAL AND STATEWIDE CONSERVATION ISSUES.

After an inspiring day at the ‘Hands As we headed along the Sealers Cove children without a ‘nature deficit’ will off Parks!’ event at the Prom last track, with foggy drizzle through Windy result from their experiences here. November, my husband Mike and I Saddle, we were continually impressed looked forward to spending the rest of by the work that had been done to The hard work by Parks Victoria to the Cup weekend walking the Sealers, rehabilitate the track – as well as the restore the trail will help ensure these Refuge and Waterloo circuit. natural recovery of the vegetation. opportunities are available.

It had been too long since we had There had been over 20 major landslides We returned to Telegraph Saddle by the done the circuit, and like many people on Sealers Track. We saw where huge jeep track. Macalister Creek, just before we eagerly looked forward to the boulders suspended above the track had you start the climb to the Saddle, was a reopening of the Sealers track after its had to be removed or stabilised, and stark example of how keeping the park trashing by the deluge of March 2011. where other boulders had been placed accessible is a work in progress. It was reopened in June 2013. in spots where the track had been This area was severely burned by fires in gouged out. From the shuttle bus to Telegraph 2005 but had managed to recover. Then Saddle we saw examples of what would As well, there had been track hardening this natural recovery was obliterated by become our enduring memories of to reduce future erosion, re-routing of the flood. Rocks have now been placed this trip – the enormous scale of the the trail around gullies, construction along the creek to help prevent future devastation caused by the storm, and of sturdy new bridges and a lot of step damage. the incredible efforts of Parks Victoria, building. VicRoads, contractors and volunteers In 2011-12 the state budget allocated to restore access to the Prom’s much- It was obvious that much of this work over $13 million dollars to flood recovery loved and much-visited areas. was done under difficult and hazardous work, although a significant portion of conditions. You can see a You Tube video this went to settling insurance claims. On 22 March 2011 the Prom received of some of the work by checking Wilsons more than 370mm of rain in just 24 Prom Parks Recovery Update 2012. We learned that more than 200 Prom sites hours. With severe flooding at Tidal and facilities had been damaged. Some River and the Darby Bridge partly The extensive boardwalk over Sealers $600,000 was spent on rehabilitating the destroyed, over 400 campers had to be Creek was also damaged by the flood Sealers Cove track alone. rescued in a major air evacuation. waters and had been repaired. Parks Victoria and its associates are to Torrents of water and debris scoured The hike around the beaches from be applauded for their fire and flood gullies down to the bedrock. Mt Sealers to Refuge and Waterloo was still restoration efforts across the State. We Oberon and other Prom mountains still as beautiful as we remembered. And we have seen many such good examples in have huge scars, and the Prom entrance were impressed by the number of family parks recently, such as at the Zumsteins road needed extensive stabilisation and groups hiking and camping. Hopefully area of Grampians NP and in Kinglake rebuilding. another generation of Prom lovers and and Yarra Ranges national parks. • PW

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 31 IN PARkS

Morwell National Park PHOTO: GEOFF DURHAM PHOTO:

GEOFF DURHAM VISITED THIS LITTLE-KNOWN PARK RECENTLY AND FOUND BEAUTIFUL AND VARIED FOREST AND PLEASANT WALKS.

The Strzelecki Ranges, or South regrowth on old farms and planted through in 1840. Their Aboriginal Gippsland Hills, have also been Mountain Ash in both native forest and connections are recognised by the called ‘The Heartbreak Hills’, and abandoned farmland. Mingled with this, names ‘Tarra’, after Charlie Tarra, with good reason. largely on the lower slopes, are extensive Strzelecki’s native guide, who is reputed plantations of introduced pine”. to have saved the exploration party W. S. Noble in A new future for the from starvation by providing koala Heartbreak Hills (1996) says that they The Review recommended meat; ‘Bulga’, an Aboriginal word for have been “the site of some of the “establishment of a major park system ‘mountain’; and ‘Morwell’, possibly grimmest struggles Australian pioneers in the Strzelecki Ranges to protect the an Aboriginal word for ‘woolly ever faced in their attempts to settle the remaining wet and damp eucalypt possum’, though others believe that country ... tragic stories of failure, as forests and cool temperate rainforests Commissioner C. J. Tyers took the name men and women broke themselves in of the region”. from the Morwell Rocks in the River their battle with a hostile environment”. Tamar in Devon. Only three small fragments of the Noble describes the ranges as “a broken Strzeleckis are reserved under the Billys Creek in Morwell National Park is tangle of hills and razor-backed spurs’ National Parks Act at present: Mt named after settler Billy Hillier, who died and says ‘the eastern ranges seem to Worth State Park (1040 ha) in the west, in 1870, possibly speared by Aborigines. follow no pattern as they twist and turn, Tarra-Bulga National Park (2015 ha) falling away in slopes of up to 40 degrees”. in the east, and Morwell National Park The first reservation of Morwell (565 ha) in between. All three parks National Park was in 1966, after The VNPA’s third Nature Conservation arose out of local community concerns 138 ha of land owned by the Quigley Review (2001) drew attention to and lobbying. family was purchased jointly by the complex plantation, native forest and Shire of Morwell and the National land tenure issues and described the History Parks Authority. A major reason for eastern Strzelecki Ranges as “a mosaic the reservation was to preserve the of unlogged native forest, logged and The ranges are named after Polish rare epiphytic Butterfly Orchid replanted native forest, advanced native explorer Paul Strzelecki, who passed (Sarcochilus australis).

32 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 PHOTOS: GEOFF DURHAM PHOTOS:

Flowers and Ferns of Morwell National Park Colour photographs of 384 species. $10.00. Available from the author, Ken Harris – phone 5122 3137.

A great place for picnics and bird watching.

With extensions, particularly an Description Facilities and activities area around Billys Creek added in 1987, the park now covers 565 ha. The two sections of the park on either At the Kerry Road entrance to the Foster side of Jumbuck Road, which runs along Gully section there is a small picnic area The VNPA’s first Nature the watershed between Fosters Gully to with barbecues and a new single toilet. Conservation Review (1971) said the west and Billys Creek to the east, are From here the easy 2.3 km loop Fosters the park was too small and hardly quite different. Gully Nature Walk takes you through an justified the ‘national’ title. The attractive fern gully. The longer Stringybark LCC in 1982 suggested regional The Fosters Gully side is forest with Ridge Track goes through forest. park status. magnificent tall eucalypts, 47 species of orchid, and fern gullies including the The entrance to the Billy Creek section Locals were outraged. In its Final ephemeral Fosters Creek, also named is on Junction Road. It is an easy 4.6 Recommendations the LCC after an early settler. km return walk to the old weir built in said: “Considerable concern has 1914 to supply water to Morwell. Other been expressed at the so-called By contrast, the Billys Creek side is a walking tracks are steep. downgrading of the Morwell very steep gully of former farmland with My most recent visit was in January this National Park. The Council firmly cleared slopes, much of it weed-infested. year with Ken Harris, past president of believes that it cannot recommend Billys Creek is a perennial stream the Friends Group. I had not previously this area as a national park or containing platypus. appreciated the diversity of eucalypts, any other type of park in view None of the park is truly pristine, areas including Manna, Mountain Grey of its established definitions for having been cleared, grazed and logged, but and Swamp Gums, Narrow-leaved various park categories. ...” and it demonstrates the remarkable capacity of Peppermint, Apple Box, and stands of recommended it become a 283 ha the bush to regenerate naturally. Mountain Ash, Blue Gum, Messmate, Flora and Fauna Reserve. Silvertop Ash and Prickly Stringybark. Park Notes, with a map of the park However, community showing walking tracks, and the 1998 Morwell and Tarra-Bulga National Parks representations were successful and Management Plan, can be downloaded are now linked by the 35.7 km Grand Morwell remains a national park. from Parks Victoria’s website Strzelecki Track, opened in May 2012. www.parks.vic.gov.au. Much more The park has greatly benefited from Conceived by local communities, built the contribution of the Friends of information is available on the excellent Friends of Morwell National Park website. with bushfire relief funds provided by the Morwell National Park, formed Victorian Government and Bendigo Bank in 1986. They published ‘Flowers I know of no other park that has such and managed entirely by local volunteers, and Ferns of Morwell National comprehensive details available on flora, it is promoted as a two-day iconic park- Park’ and conduct annual Koala fauna (including invertebrates) and to-park bushwalking experience in the counts and Butterfly Orchid fungus, even slime moulds. heart of the Strzeleckis. I have not walked surveys. Their on-ground work has the track, but am told it involves wading included weeding, seed collection, Parks Victoria’s rating for ‘level of at numerous creek crossings. • PW propagation, and extensive protection’ is B, with C for ‘level of plantings, particularly along service’. There is no camping or horse Information for walkers is provided at Billys Creek. riding in the park. www.grandstrzeleckitrack.org.au

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 33 PHOTO: KAREN ALEXANDER KAREN PHOTO: Victoria: State of the Environment Report 2013

KAREN ALEXANDER, VICTORIA NATURALLY COORDINATOR, LOOKS AT THIS COMPREHENSIVE AND IMPORTANT REPORT, TITLED 'SCIENCE POLICY PEOPLE'.

kate Auty, Victoria’s Commissioner and environmental – approach”. Biodiversity for Environmental Sustainability, Recommendations cover landscapes likes listening to stories. An unusual and connectivity, water, burning, So, biodiversity. You would be right in quality, one can argue, in a bureaucrat. food systems, reducing consumption, guessing we’re still going backwards sustainable energy and, to reflect the and that data is still inadequate. The preparation and production of the whole-of-system approach, sustainable 2013 State of the Environment (SoE) The status of invertebrates, lichens and communities including housing and Report, released last November, reflects fungi remains ‘poor’, with no update transport, monitoring, and awareness her connection to the community in numbers of introduced species of ecosystem services. and its stories. While research and since 2008, no extent of pest plant and data analysis were important in its animal management and no recent Previous SoE reports were filled preparation, so was consultation across data on salinity, soil structure, erosion with data and hundreds of sectors and the state. And in the final or acidification. (Is this deliberate report, case studies illustrate many of the recommendations. Although the data negligence by government?) recommendations to state government. is useful (and should be available), Auty’s approach is more strategic and The big picture: more than half of our Moreover, the report is not just more engaged with a wider range of Ecological Vegetation Communities on biophysical trends but “a stakeholders (including government). (EVCs) have less than 50% of their total whole of system – social, economic Hopefully, it will have more impact. current area protected. (Some EVCs

34 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Left and right: There has been little or no regeneration of Alpine Ash trees since the fires of 2003 and 2013. PHOTO: KAREN ALEXANDER KAREN PHOTO:

The VNPA is particularly interested in the following recommendations to the Victorian Government: have very little of their original area left, so 50% of that may not be much at all). No. 2: establish targets for statewide ecological processes and ecosystem function. No. 3: protect native vegetation on public and private land by amending permitted As species are the building blocks clearing regulations. of our plant communities, and of No. 4: integrate and sponsor efforts to develop biolinks at different scales. ecosystem services, we can’t afford No. 7: implement a risk based fire management strategy defining planned burning to lose too many. Yet again there is targets on public and private land, incorporating protection of financial, inadequate data, but expert advice says environmental and cultural assets. there is an overall decline in threatened No. 8: undertake statewide accounting and reporting of the outcomes of planned species populations (p.71 of the report). burning to demonstrate risk reduction to human and ecological communities. From data that is available it is clear that for long-term protection of species, (and closer to 20 for Mountain Ash). Good news? national parks and other reserves are So two fires within 15 years means very important – so they must be well there will be no seed for the recovery Is there any good news? Not much on the funded. of those species. natural environment, and there’s little point in pretending otherwise. Private land protection is also The fires on Mts Feathertop and vitally necessary, and the area under Hotham in February 2013, just 10 However, there are good news stories: we covenants has increased by 30,000 years after the major 2003 fires, have do know what to do, and it doesn’t cost the ha since 2008-12 to 240,000 ha. This wiped out Alpine Ash regeneration earth (unlike the current scenario). And is just 0.17% of total private land, a over that area. over her five years in the job, Auty has given ludicrously small figure given the scale us numerous case studies and inspiration on of the climate change problem we are Given the fire history of the last many fronts. facing. decade, the report says that 40% of native vegetation in Victoria is Producing this report is the major Threatening processes are once again requirement of the Commissioner’s job, and habitat loss and fragmentation, ongoing now below minimum Tolerable Fire Intervals (TFIs). And irrespective of she has achieved her aim of ‘informing the degradation of remaining habitat community’. from invasive species, grazing, and levels of planned burning and future inappropriate fire regimes (p.71). fire events, large areas of Victoria will Her second aim: “to influence government remain below minimum TFIs (p.74). to achieve environmental, social, cultural Fire and economic sustainability” may take a little This places species with life cycles longer, and will need us to get behind it too. Fire data is deeply disturbing. Fire dependent on particular (longer) fire regimes are inappropriate for species intervals at increased risk. The above is only a very small part of the when areas are burnt too often and 2013 SoE report. It’s worthwhile reading Further, only 18% of native the species can’t recover and/or flower online (sadly, very few hard copies are and seed. vegetation assessed was found available) at www.ces.vic.gov.au to be within the required TFI to Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash need maintain plant communities, and The report was tabled in Parliament on fire for regeneration, but not too often, TFIs could not be calculated for 39% 28 November 2013. The government must as they do not flower and seed after of vegetation because of a lack of table a response to the recommendations burning until at least 15 years of age documented fire history. within 12 months after this date.• PW

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 35 BOOk REVIEWS

Melbourne. The Wallaby Creek Melbourne’s aqueduct took water from the Goulburn catchment to Yan Yean; Water Catchments the Maroondah Aqueduct took water from the Watts River to Melbourne’s Perspectives on a world-class Preston Reservoir. water supply By the 1891 establishment of the By James I. Viggers, Haylee J. Weaver, Melbourne and Metropolitan Board David B. Lindenmayer. of Works (MMBW), Melbourne was receiving gravity-fed water from CSIRO Publishing, 2013. Paperback, closed catchments – an excellent (and 144 pages. RRP $29.95. uncommon) foundation for a city’s water supply. This system expanded Prof. David Lindenmayer has a long- considerably both before and after the standing interest in the majestic MMBW became Melbourne Water. forests of Victoria’s Central Highlands. So a book on Melbourne’s water In the 1990s, the new Parks Victoria became responsible for MMBW catchments co-authored by him Yan Yean dam was constructed off the metropolitan and reservoir parks, attracts immediate attention. Plenty River in the 1850s. Human- and Yarra Ranges National Park produced contamination of the reservoir, Written with former MMBW engineer was established. However, with plus the belief that increased tree cover Jim Viggers and parasitologist Haylee on-going pressure from the timber enhanced rainfall, led to the closure of its Weaver, Melbourne’s Water Catchments industry, industrial logging continues catchments to logging and other human charts the development of the in catchments. The sources of our activities in 1873. system of dams, reservoirs pipes and water-supply are now less rigorously aqueducts that delivers potable water to In the 1880s two aqueducts were built protected than they were over a Melbourne. to divert clean mountain water to century ago!

forward.” It brings you into a different Born in a tent and closer relationship with the natural world – and often with other people. How camping The early years at Port Jackson were makes us Australian largely spent in tents, and for some it was enjoyable. Explorers, gold diggers, By Bill Garner selectors, railway builders, artists NewSouth Publishing, 2013. and field naturalists all lived in tents, Paperback, 288 pages. RRP $39.99. sharing news and (sometimes radical) ideas, and learning to improvise and make do. “Camping is a formative Just as Geoffrey Blainey inT he Tyranny part of Australia’s cultural heritage”, of Distance rewrote Australia’s history says Garner. using distance as the key explanatory concept, Bill Garner has rewritten it In the 20th century came recreational with tents and camping as the focus. camping. Garner points out that “until the 1960s, most camping places were Even though Garner says that “Australia on Crown land” and it was understood (and possibly the world) seems to that “camping was allowed anywhere divide into campers and non-campers”, it was not expressly forbidden”. And it he shows that the experience of living Cartoonist Michael Leunig, who values was usually free. in tents has shaped many aspects of meditation, resting and quiet, would love Australian history and character. It also this book. “Camping is stopping”, Garner Charges began to be levied where helps link Indigenous and European says. “It is a rejection of the mad mantra facilities developed, particularly as history and experience. that we must relentlessly keep moving caravans became popular. But many

36 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Protection of catchment forests from logging and other activities has given Melburnians high-quality water and enabled scientists to undertake research on magnificent Mountain Ash forests. The book discusses the effects of fire and logging on the water yield of forested catchments, and Lindenmayer’s long-term research in the catchments, but not early MMBW-supported research at Wallaby Creek by John Brookes and David Ashton.

This book reveals the decisions and Above: One of the great views developments that have shaped along the Mallacoota coastal walk. Melbourne’s water supply for over Right: Part of the track is 170 years, and considers current and canopied by tea-trees. future water supply issues, including the North-South Pipeline and the desalination plant. It is essential reading for Ocean views Melburnians. • PW Review by Linden Gillbank, School of available Historical and Philosophical Studies,

The University of Melbourne to all REISS FRANCIS PHOTOS:

FRANCIS REISS HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE VNPA AND THE BAYSIDE BUSHWALKING CLUB FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE FOUND THE WALK HE DESCRIBES HERE PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE, AS HIS OWN WALKING CAPABILITIES ARE NOW LIMITED TO SHORT DISTANCES. campers are happy with minimal Exceptionally beautiful ocean views, you can find good camping facilities at facilities and don’t want ‘gold plating’ accessed easily and in safety by walkers Wingan Inlet. and high fees. of any age and people in wheelchairs, There are toilets, easy access to a safe are not often encountered. Garner concludes with a discussion swimming beach and barbecue facilities of tents in early Canberra and of Yet this is just what Parks Victoria has at the start of the new section from the Aboriginal tent embassy at accomplished with its new extension to Betka beach. an existing coastal walk at Mallacoota. Parliament House, and then with The track, gravel surfaced but wheelchair a lyrical description of a recent At 6.6km in length and 350km east of negotiable most of the way, is virtually camping trip of his own. Melbourne, it’s hardly a day excursion, flat, and offers magnificent views. A but there is much more in Mallacoota useful feature is that for its whole length As well as a very readable text, the itself to enjoy. it runs parallel with the Betka Road, book has a fantastic collection of with plentiful parking spots, making it Ample holiday accommodation, an relevant paintings and photographs, particularly attractive for anyone with interesting and exciting trip to Gabo each of which the author describes mobility problems. Island and the Gabo Lighthouse in an and explains. It’s also well designed, abalone diver’s speedboat, and a new, Even over the recent Christmas with clear type, good layout and nice and genuinely good, Chinese restaurant period, when Mallacoota township features like the diagonal tent rope at owned by a Chinese lady with but was humming, the track was almost the start of each chapter. And there’s little English, are attractions to add to unvisited, perhaps because it is not yet a comprehensive bibliography. fishing, bird watching and relaxation. well known. I thoroughly recommend this The new track connects up with the For those really seeking complete book! • PW Old Coast Road Walking Track in peace and quiet, with only occasionally Croajingolong National Park and the grunting seals for neighbours, Park Review by Michael Howes existing Mallacoota Coastal Walk, so Victoria offers overnight accommodation the total possible length is more than in the Assistant Lighthouse Keeper's enough for a day. At the other end cottage on Gabo Island. • PW

PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 37 Here and there ...

Doug Humann awarded AM From an email from Doug Humann to VNPA VNPA members, councillors and staff warmly congratulate I think you know that I wouldn't have become engaged Doug Humann on his award as Member of the Order of with VNPA in the late 1980s were it not for my father’s Australia (AM) for significant service to conservation and the involvement in the VNPA and my passion for the Alps … environment in the Australia Day honours 2014. The gong [AM] is shared widely amongst family and those Doug was Director of the VNPA from 1989 to 1997 and is staff, executives and supporters at VNPA and other places I an Honorary Life Member of the Association. He was Chief have worked ... And, as VNPA remains part of my extended Executive Officer of Bush Heritage Australia from 1997 to 2011. family, it is quite a special thing to have VNPA share in the Since 2011 he has been Director, Doug Humann and Associates, award and to have that sense of family reciprocated with VNPA’s hearty congratulations and acknowledgement. focusing on natural resource management across Australia, including Indigenous protected areas, and supporting various I think it shows real heart and generosity and sense non-government and Indigenous organisations. of connectedness, which is so critical in community organisations - or any organisation really. Congratulations to Doug on a well-deserved award! • PW

Boneseeding at Arthurs Seat Saturday 5 April 2014 ROYAL The annual boneseed pull at the PARK VNPA’s Arthurs Seat block is on again. After many years of dedicated work, this will be Marg Hattersley’s The Last last stint at organising this important Summer environmental activity. 2014 duck rescue The VNPA sincerely thanks Marg for Photographs Once again, eight species her efforts, which have seen boneseed by David of Australian native infestation greatly reduced. Tatnall waterbirds are in desperate need of help. Come along on 5 April, and also think about anyone you know (including The Victorian recreational yourself!) who might be willing to take The Last Summer project is a series of large duck shooting season on this rewarding annual task! Please format photographs made in the summer commences on 15 March. phone or email Marg to let her know if of 2013 – 2014 of Melbourne’s Royal Park. Research shows that at you plan to come. Contact her at Threatened by the massive least one in four birds will [email protected] or East – West road project, this could be wounded. To help these phone 9578 2554. PW • be the last summer for Royal Park. innocent victims, join the Coalition against Duck www.thelastsummer.org Shooting rescue team at New photographs will be added to this www.duck.org.au From Sue Catterall, BWAG website regularly during the final month Meeting times and other A big Thank You to all for of summer and into autumn 2014. information will be helping with the BWAG Social Night forwarded to you. [12 Feb] Special thanks to tim and Exhibition of photographs at Please phone Lynn Nick from Backpacking Light for fortyfivedownstairsgallery (45 Flinders Lane) on 0414 816 509 with a great talk and gear demo, and to 11 – 22 March 2014. any queries. • PW our very own Rob Argent for an interesting and funny talk on how to pack a pack. Thanks also to Geoff Durham for bringing in his 50+ year On the Sheep’s Back photo exhibition old canvas tent and Paddy Pallin Renowned photojournalist 5 March to 14 April backpack. Francis Reiss’s photographs of Box Hill Town Hall, I was overwhelmed by the amount of Burren Burren station owner Rex 1022 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill. stuff donated and the need for four White and his family document Tues–Fri: 10am–4pm. tables to display it all! The night was a time when our economy rode Sat: 12–4pm. a great success, with over $300 raised high ‘on the sheep’s back’. • PW for VNPA. • PW Phone 9262 6250 or see www.whitehorseartspace.com.au

38 PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 Walk WA’s Cape to Cape track with no roughing it

P: (08) 6219 5164 W: www.inspirationoutdoors.com.au

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PARK WATCH • MARCH 2014 NO 256 39 FORESTS FOREVER

EASTER ECOLOGY CAMP

WHEN CAMP among Peppermint and Manna 18-21 April 2014 Gums on the Brodribb River. WHERE SPOTLIGHT for wildlife. Goongerah, 70km north of Orbost EXPLORE ancient and beautiful forests COST with expert biologists. $60 for the weekend, $25 for one day (concessions available), BE INSPIRED to help save East under 13s free. Gippsland’s spectacular forests.

BOOK YOUR SPOT TO BOOK ONLINE or get more info visit: eastgippsland.net.au/forestsforever, email [email protected] (preferred) or phone 03 5154 0145.

OR contact the VNPA on 03 9347 5188. www.vnpa.org.au www.eastgippsland.net.au