National Parks Act Annual Report 2000-2001 © The State of , Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 2001

A Victorian Government Publication.

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968.

Published by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne Victoria 3002. www.nre.vic.gov.au

ISSN 1031-7899

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Source of photographs: Parks Victoria

Front cover: Foreword

Wilsons Promontory National Park

This annual report on the working of the National Parks Act Other highlights for the year included: 1975 (Vic.) for the year ended 30 June 2001 is provided to • several additions to the parks system, including the return the Minister for Environment and Conservation, the Hon. of 285 hectares at Mount McKay/Rocky Valley to the Sherryl Garbutt MP, under section 35 of the Act. Alpine National Park and the addition of the Wongungarra The year included the 25th anniversary of the commencement area to that park; of the National Parks Act on 1 December 1975. At that time, • the release of Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks 2000 some 227 000 hectares were protected under the Act. report and the Wilsons Promontory National Park Draft Now, a quarter of a century later, a magnificent system of Management Plan to provide for integrated management national, State, wilderness and other parks covers nearly of the park; 3.1 million hectares. • a continuing focus on indigenous issues; A major goal over the last 25 years has been to establish a parks system that is representative of the State’s diverse • a wide range of activities related to cultural natural systems. From the dunefields of the Mallee to the heritage management; tall wet forests of East Gippsland, from the rugged mountain • the completion of new visitor facilities at the ranges of the Alps to the coast, the existing parks system is a Twelve Apostles. legacy in which all Victorians can take pride. The year was also notable because 2001 is the International A notable gap has been national parks that are representative Year of Volunteers. This provides an excellent opportunity to of the State’s diverse marine environments. Although recognise the many volunteers who contribute their time, legislation introduced this year to establish marine national energy and expertise to our parks system. Their contribution parks was unsuccessful, the Government has indicated that it is very much appreciated and augurs well for the community’s remains committed to establishing a comprehensive system of long-term custodianship of our precious parks system. marine national parks.

Parks Victoria delivered a comprehensive range of park Chloe Munro management services during the year on behalf of the Secretary to the Department of Secretary. There was an increased focus on environmental Natural Resources and Environment management, resulting in the largest ever on-ground environment program in parks across the State. An increasing number of partnerships between Parks Victoria and other organisations assisted in the delivery of this program.

1 Contents

Foreword 1

Representative System 3 Areas managed under the Act 3

Changes to the parks system 3

Natural Values Management 4 Planning 4

Research 4

Environmental management 6

Wildfires 9

Community involvement 9

Cultural Values Management 10 Indigenous program 10

Non-indigenous program 11

Visitor and Tourism Services 12 Information, interpretation and education 12

Enhancing park visits 14

Visits to parks 15

Licensed tour activities 15

Administration 16 Park management arrangements 16

Finance 16

Staff 17

Legislation 17

Consents and leases 17

Offences 18

Advisory bodies 18

Appendices 19 1. Land managed under the National Parks Act 19

2. Pest plant control projects 22

3. Pest animal control projects 23

4. Key locations of parks and other areas 24

2 Representative System

Yarra Ranges National Park

Areas Managed under the Act Changes to the Parks System As at 30 June 2001 there were 108 areas managed under Areas totalling 13 261 hectares were added to the following various provisions of the National Parks Act. These comprised parks on 25 January 2001 as a result of the National Parks 92 areas on schedules to the Act (36 national parks, (Amendment) Act 2000: 3 wilderness parks, 31 State parks, 11 marine and/or coastal • Alpine National Park (13 135 ha) – the Mount parks or reserves, 5 regional parks, 3 historic parks and McKay/Rocky Valley area that was excised from the park 3 other areas) and 16 non-scheduled areas. Appendix 1 lists in 1997 (285 ha) and the Wongungarra wilderness the areas and appendix 4 shows their location. Their total (12 850 ha); area is approximately 3.09 million hectares, which is nearly 13.6 per cent of the State and more than 35 per cent of • Organ Pipes National Park (13 ha) – an area along Jackson public land. Creek donated by the City of Brimbank;

The Act also defines 19 wilderness zones and 21 remote and • Yarra Ranges National Park (3 ha) – four small areas in or natural areas within 13 national parks (appendix 1) and on the boundaries of the Armstrong Creek and Upper 2 designated water supply catchment areas (those parts of Yarra catchments; Melbourne’s water supply catchments and their buffers within • Kamarooka State Park (94 ha) – an area on the southern Kinglake and Yarra Ranges National Parks). edge of the park with Whipstick mallee and box-ironbark vegetation purchased with the assistance of the City of Greater Bendigo;

• Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park (16 ha) – former freehold land on the Boole Poole Peninsula.

3 Natural Values Management

Grampians National Park

Planning Best practice in park management

Management plans The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) and Parks Victoria contributed to the preparation of a As at 30 June 2001 there were 63 approved management continuing series of ‘Best Practice in Park Management’ plans covering 34 national parks, 3 wilderness parks, 30 State reports as part of the Australian and New Zealand parks and 9 other parks. Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) Working Further consultation with indigenous communities and native Group on National Parks and Protected Area Management. title claimants was undertaken on the final plan for Yarra Two reports were published during the year: Ranges National Park and is continuing on the final plans for • Best Practice in Protected Area Management Planning the Grampians National Park and Discovery Bay parks (Mount Richmond National Park, and • Best Practice in Historic Places Management Discovery Bay Coastal Park). Reports on public involvement in protected area management In December 2000 the Minister released a new draft plan for and the use of fire for ecological purposes were commenced. Wilsons Promontory National Park. This provides for fully Details of the program can be found at integrated management of Tidal River and the rest of the www.ea.gov.au/parks/anzecc. park. Research There was also considerable work undertaken on draft plans for: Research permits

• Terrick Terrick National Park Research, study or investigation carried out in a park under the National Parks Act requires a permit under that Act and • Beechworth Historic Park sometimes other Acts (e.g. Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act • Cape Conran Coastal Park 1988, Reference Areas Act 1978, Wildlife Act 1975). There • Cape Liptrap Coastal Park were 181 permits granted during the year for 181 projects: 93 permits were new and 88 existing permits were renewed. • Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve Of the 181 permits, 153 covered 291 research activities in • Long Forest Flora Reserve 72 parks (a permit and project may cover more than one park). The other 28 permits enabled work to be carried out Monitoring of priority tasks in management plans continued in all parks if necessary. during the year to ensure that existing plans are being implemented.

4 Figure 1 - Research Permits

Figure 1 shows the number of permits in the parks for which • a study of the taxonomy of the Mountain Galaxias species there were more than five permits issued (excluding ‘all parks’ complex in several parks; permits). The vast majority of the projects were in the fields • an investigation of the habitat requirements of the Barking of botany, ecology and zoology. Other areas included Owl (Chiltern Box-Ironbark National Park and Beechworth anthropology, archaeology, conservation, education, Historic Park); engineering, fisheries, geography, geology, horticulture, palaeontology, recreation and soils. Researchers were mostly • a study of the biophysical impact of camping at Wilsons from tertiary institutions, government departments and Promontory National Park. agencies, and museums. Research Partners Program The diverse projects covered by the permits included: The second year of Parks Victoria’s Research Partners Program • determining the three-dimensional geological structure of funded targeted environmental research activities. Partners in a fold in rocks at Cape Liptrap as an analogue for mountain the program are the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental belts around the world; Research, Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology at the • investigating the climatic and environmental history of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Deakin University, University of ; Ballarat and University of Melbourne. Projects undertaken in areas under the Act during the year included: • several projects relating to streams, including • an investigation of the habitat requirements of threatened - the sampling of macroinvertebrates Statewide as part of reptiles in grasslands at Terrick Terrick National Park – a program to monitor river health; artificial log refuges were used to observe threatened - a study of the environmental flows required to protect reptiles (such as the Curl Snake, Tessellated Gecko and drought refuges in intermittent streams (Grampians Striped Legless Lizard) and other fauna in the park’s newly National Park); acquired grasslands;

- an examination of the impact of grazing on stream • a study of the impact of koalas on Manna Gums at Mount health and geomorphology (Alpine and Eccles National Park, in which researchers mapped the National Parks); distribution of defoliated trees and established monitoring plots to assess the damage caused by these animals.

5 Environmental Management • the successful re-introduction and breeding of the Black- eared Miner in Murray-Sunset National Park; Parks Victoria implemented a significantly expanded program of environmental management during the year. There was an • the release of 24 Striped Legless Lizards in Organ Pipes increased emphasis on threatened species and communities, National Park in March 2001 as part of the National ecological burning, and kangaroo and koala management, Recovery Plan for that species and involving the Striped while continuing to implement a wide range of pest plant Legless Lizard Recovery Team and additional funding from and animal control programs. the Urban Land Corporation – the lizards are listed as endangered in Victoria and were rescued from the Cairnlea The program was categorised into the following seven sub- Estate in the previous spring and summer and cared for by program areas, with examples of projects within each sub- the Melbourne Zoo prior to their release; program area provided below: • the continuation of the recovery program for the • threatened species management endangered Helmeted Honeyeater at • ecological management of fire with the release into the park of twelve captive-bred birds from aviaries previously located there – this was a major • native animal management milestone for the program, which is a joint project involving • catchment and marine protection the Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Team, Parks Victoria, NRE and Healesville Sanctuary. • pest plant management

• pest animal management Ecological management of fire

• grazing management The increased emphasis on ecological burning was continued and ecological burning guidelines developed last year were Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks 2000 report was released trialed in a number of locations. Projects included: during the year. The report contains environmental information on a range of factors for all scheduled parks and • the preparation of ecological burning strategies for the reserves (excluding Haining Farm), provides a comprehensive Grampians, Wilsons Promontory and Wyperfeld picture of the overall condition of the parks system and National Parks; outlines a range of strategic priorities for the future. • three ecological burns in Croajingolong National Park to Threatened species management regenerate heathlands and enhance the habitat of the endangered Ground Parrot; Parks Victoria undertook 30 projects directly related to • ecological burning along Bruce’s Creek/Dandenong Creek threatened species management in areas managed under the in the Doongalla unit of the National Act. An analysis using Victoria’s bioregions as a framework Park to rid the area of the invasive weed, Karamu; assisted in determining the priorities for this sub-program. Projects included: • ecological burning of heathland in the Grampians National Park to improve the habitat of the Heath Mouse, a • the construction of a fish barrier on White’s Creek, Lake threatened species in Victoria; Eildon National Park to help protect the Spotted Tree Frog by halting the movement of trout upstream – this major • ecological burning at Mount Lofty in project involved considerable liaison with a range of to regenerate native grasslands. stakeholder groups and will involve removing trout upstream of the barrier by electro-fishing during the 2001-02 summer;

• the protection of Hooded Plovers along 30 kilometres of the Mornington Peninsula National Park coastline, involving fox control, sea spurge control and population monitoring – monitoring by the Friends group in conjunction with park staff has shown an increase in both fledging birds and average adult numbers;

6 Native animal management Pest plant management

Kangaroo and koala population control programs continued The control of pest plants continued to be a major area of in parks where there is a demonstrable long-term impact on activity in the parks. The emphasis continued on eradicating park values caused by overabundant populations. These new weed infestations and controlling and reducing were undertaken in accordance with established ecological infestations to maintain or improve environmental values. rationales and with the support of key stakeholders, including Cooperative programs with landowners and other agencies the Kangaroo Technical Advisory Committee. The Koala to integrate pest plant control across land tenures continued. Technical Advisory Committee was established during the year Appendix 2 lists the species and areas under the Act which to provide independent technical advice on Parks Victoria’s were targeted during the year in projects budgeted at more koala management program. than $2000.

Projects undertaken included: Some notable projects were:

• an assessment of the condition of vegetation in Murray- • the completion of a major environmental values and weed Sunset National Park to underpin the planning for kangaroo mapping exercise for the Alpine, Burrowa- management in the park by facilitating the development of and Mount Buffalo National Parks, Avon and Wabba short- and long-term targets for vegetation recovery and Wilderness Parks, and Mount Granya and Mount Lawson providing baseline data against which management actions State Parks which will be used to develop a weed strategy can be assessed; for Parks Victoria’s Alpine District;

• the efficient and successful delivery of ongoing kangaroo • the commencement of an extended Willow control management programs at Hattah-Kulkyne and Wyperfeld program in Baw Baw National Park, which was very National Parks and the commencement of kangaroo successful and well received by the community, with management in Murray-Sunset National Park – these volunteers contributing over 750 hours to the program so projects take a landscape approach to improving the far – partnerships between Parks Victoria and other land vegetation condition of the Mallee parks which involves management agencies will be essential to the overall integrating pest animal control, native animal management success of this project; and revegetation; • the significant reduction of large Karamu infestations • the successful completion of the year’s French Island koala covering 70 hectares in the Dandenong Ranges National relocation program, with 172 adults relocated and 55 Park to the point that these are now within reach of being females sterilised; eradicated pending further works in 2001-02, and the control of Cestrum and Wandering Jew in the park, • an assessment of the defoliation of Manna Gums in Mount including the latter’s complete removal from an area near Eccles National Park to provide baseline information on tree the Thousand Steps at Fern Tree Gully. condition as part of the integrated koala management program, and the relocation of 1300 koalas from the park Pest plants targeted in projects sponsored by the Good to sites across Western Victoria. Neighbour Program included:

• Blackberry, Bridal Creeper and St John’s Wort in the Catchment and marine protection Grampians National Park; This sub-program continued to focus on improving the • Ragwort in Mornington Peninsula National Park; condition of remnant vegetation and mitigating priority catchment degradation risks. Projects included: • Blackberry in Mount Buffalo National Park;

• the closure and rehabilitation of approximately 25 • Bridal Creeper, Cape Broom and Horehound in kilometres of vehicle tracks in the Windy Point and Black Kamarooka State Park; Snake Range areas of Bunyip State Park (including 3 • Blackberry and Ragwort in ; kilometres in the Diamond Creek Reference Area) – this will significantly reduce the park's highly fragmented nature • St John’s Wort in . and help to improve its natural condition;

• a rehabilitation program in Corner Inlet Marine and Coastal Park targeting the control of Spartina in the intertidal zone.

7 Pest animal management Grazing management

This sub-program continued its focus on the protection of Cattle grazing was again excluded in the 2000-01 grazing threatened species and communities and other significant park season from the area of the Alpine National Park burnt by values. Cooperative programs also continued with private the 1998 Caledonia wildfire to help the vegetation to recover. landholders to control pest animals that threaten economic or An assessment of the vegetation condition of burnt areas ecological values. Appendix 3 lists the species and areas under undertaken by Parks Victoria in October 2000 was a major the Act which were targeted during the year in projects input into this decision. An assistance package was made budgeted at more than $2000. available to those licence holders who were excluded from grazing cattle to cover the remainder of the current licence Some notable achievements were: period (until 2005). Four of the seven affected licensees took • two large programs targeting wild dogs and foxes in the up the offer. Alpine National Park (near Omeo) and Snowy River National An audit of grazing was completed for Parks Victoria’s Park – the benefits of this on-going program in Snowy River Murray Central District as a pilot project for all of Parks National Park are being seen with low bait takes, limited Victoria’s districts. predator scats and increased sightings of native species including the endangered Spot-tailed Quoll; The Cooperative Management Program • the continuation of the cooperative fox control program in The Australian Alps National Parks Memorandum of the Dandenong Ranges National Park – this continued to Understanding between the conservation Ministers of show good results in reducing fox predation on the Lyrebird Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT and the Commonwealth and other native fauna; aims to promote cross border cooperation in the protection • the continuation of rabbit control in the Mallee parks to and enjoyment of all of the Australian Alps national parks. reduce grazing pressure; The program continues to be recognised as an international example of cross border management and cooperation. • goat control in Murray-Sunset National Park, also to help to reduce grazing pressure, prior to commencing the kangaroo Parks Victoria, along with conservation agencies from the other management program in that park; jurisdictions, contributed to the program by funding grants to the Australian Alps Liaison Committee for works across the • the development of a detailed fox control plan for Wilsons Alps. The Commonwealth decided during the year to withdraw Promontory National Park – this has been accepted by a direct financial support for the program beyond the 2000-01 range of stakeholders and is an example of ‘best practice’ financial year. While placing pressure on the program, there for predator control avoiding non-target species. is an opportunity to expand the support base and partners Projects sponsored by the Rabbit Buster Program included: involved in the program (for example, Victorian alpine resort management boards participated in several workshops during • the destruction of warrens in Murray-Sunset National Park the year and have indicated a desire to be more actively to reduce grazing pressure and allow regeneration; involved). • the erection of rabbit-proof fencing in Terrick Terrick Activities during the year included: National Park; • the Best Practice Walking Track Workshop held at Dinner • the control of rabbit populations in Wyperfeld Plain and Mount Buffalo – this was a major highlight, with National Park; participants from all over and overseas helping to • fumigation, baiting and harbour destruction in Discovery Bay share best practice information on mountain trail Coastal Park. management and planning;

Projects sponsored by the Good Neighbour Program included: • a very successful cross-cultural workshop ‘Communicating • fox and goat control in the Alpine National Park; Across Cultures’ in New South Wales which was attended by Parks Victoria staff; • fox and pig control in Brisbane Ranges National Park; • the ongoing management and control of English Broom; • fox control in the Grampians National Park; • the commencement of planning for the International • fox and rabbit control in Murray-Sunset National Park; Year of Mountains in 2002. • fox control in Tarra-Bulga National Park;

• fox and rabbit control in .

8 Wildfires • Spring Planting Festival activities held in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Arthurs Seat State Park and Parks Victoria works in partnership with NRE to play a Woodlands Historic Park; significant role in preventing and suppressing wildfire in areas under the Act. As in the previous three years, below average • the construction of three information shelters in Lerderderg rainfall during the year resulted in a severe fire season that State Park by the Friends group with the aid of a Centenary kept Parks Victoria and NRE firefighters in a state of of Federation Community Grant. heightened preparedness. Other volunteer programs There were approximately 90 fires attended during the year in areas under the Act which burnt approximately 3400 The Conservation Volunteers of Australia (formerly the hectares. The largest fire burnt more than 1300 hectares in Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers) continued the Little Desert National Park. The most significant incident to work in partnership with Parks Victoria, including in areas under the Act occurred in early January when severe coordinating the Green Corps program. Green Corps lightning activity in the Alpine National Park caused many participants undergo a structured six-month program of fires. These were contained without significant areas being training and on-the-job experience in park management burnt. The most significant cause of wildfires on areas under projects. The following projects occurred in parks under the Act this year was lightning and deliberate lightings. Fires the Act: started by lightning accounted for about two thirds of the • koala relocation at Mount Eccles National Park; area burnt. • the restoration of two key conservation sites in Mornington Community Involvement Peninsula National Park. Many of the environmental and other works undertaken in Community Grants Program areas managed under the Act are supported and enhanced The 2000-01 Parks Victoria Community Grants Program by many thousands of volunteer days provided through distributed 49 grants totalling more than $250 000 to partnerships with Friends groups, environment and naturalist community groups for a range of projects in parks under groups, other interest groups (such as four-wheel drive clubs), the Act. Grants were made to groups including: students and individuals. More than 60 community and Friends groups continued to give substantial support during • Friends of Angahook-Lorne State Park – for a mammal the year. survey in Angahook-Lorne State Park;

The International Year of Volunteers in 2001 is an excellent • Friends of Bunyip State Park – for environment protection opportunity to recognise the passion and commitment of work on the Button Grass Nature Walk in Bunyip State volunteers to preserving our precious parks and enhancing Park; the experience of visitors. The support and dedication of all • Friends of Dinosaur Dreaming – for interpretation of the those who commit their energy, time and expertise to a broad Dinosaur Dreaming fossil site at The Caves, Bunurong range of projects is invaluable to the conservation of the Marine Park; parks system and is greatly appreciated. • Friends of the Great South West Walk – for the upgrading Examples of the many contributions made by volunteers of the West Cape Nelson section of the Great South West during the year include: Walk in Discovery Bay Coastal Park; • the extension of the Camp Host program to cover not only • Healesville and District Historical Society – for the design Croajingolong, Mount Buffalo and Otway National Parks and development of interpretation panels for the proposed but also the Grampians, Hattah-Kulkyne, Little Desert, shelter at Badger Weir in the Yarra Ranges National Park. Lower Glenelg, The Lakes and Wyperfeld National Parks, Cathedral Range State Park, and Cape Liptrap and Gippsland Lakes Coastal Parks – volunteer camp hosts assisted visitors within campgrounds as well as having the opportunity to gain practical experience in park and visitor management;

• a near record number of volunteers participating in clean- up activities across the State, including Clean Up Australia Day activities in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Ranges National Parks and Reef Hills Park;

9 Cultural Values Management

Woodlands Historic Park

Parks Victoria implemented a Statewide-prioritised program of Other achievements included: cultural values management comprising indigenous and non- • the completion of the draft Guidelines for Working with indigenous programs. Aboriginal Communities and Protection of Cultural Sites, a major milestone in the development of Parks Victoria’s Indigenous Program Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management Program;

Significant progress was made in developing better • cross-cultural awareness training, a major Parks Victoria relationships with Aboriginal communities across the State. initiative that has been acknowledged by other Government This included the involvement of Parks Victoria staff in cultural Departments and which has significantly improved the awareness training programs and discussions with skills, knowledge and understanding of Parks Victoria staff; communities on Parks Victoria’s draft guidelines for working with Aboriginal communities, proposed projects and planning • Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys in several parks, activities. Parks Victoria employed several Indigenous people including Wilsons Promontory National Park, Leaghur on a contract basis to carry out park maintenance and State Park and Discovery Bay Coastal Park, resulting in a cultural site protection works at various locations. significant increase in the knowledge of Aboriginal sites within the parks system; Parks Victoria also entered into an agreement with the Yorta Yorta Nation during the year for the latter to deliver • site protection projects in consultation and cooperation interpretative services at the Darnya Centre adjacent to with local Aboriginal communities at a number of State Park. This means that the local Aboriginal Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, including in community has a much stronger role in determining Croajingolong, Mornington Peninsula and Snowy River Aboriginal cultural messages for visitors to the park. National Parks, and Bunyip and Mount Lawson State Parks; The agreement included the secondment of two Parks • investigations into registering a number of Aboriginal Victoria cultural officers to the Yorta Yorta Nation. cultural heritage sites with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria;

• significant progress in the planning for the Brambuk and Parks Victoria Halls Gap visitor centre partnership.

10 Non-indigenous Program • maintenance works on several historic huts in the Alpine National Park; The long-term care and sustainable management of the parks system’s non-indigenous heritage places was enhanced during • the initial implementation of the Heritage Action Statement the year through a more strategic and systematic approach to for Red Robin Mine (Alpine National Park); planning and programming, and with strong support from • the development of a template for a standardised Heritage the Public Heritage Program administered by Heritage Maintenance Plan for historic sites, with a pilot application Victoria. A broad ranging program of maintenance and undertaken for Red Robin Mine; conservation planning and works was undertaken. • the completion of a site development plan and risk Projects relating to non-indigenous heritage in areas under assessment report for Wallaby Mine in Beechworth the Act included: Historic Park;

• the development by Parks Victoria of the draft Directions in • the re-enactment in Warrandyte State Park of the first Historic Places Management document to provide strategic Victorian discovery of gold at Warrandyte as part of the directions for and a thematic approach to the management celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of of more than 2500 historic places, many of which are Gold in Victoria; located within areas under the Act; • the commencement of a future directions plan for the • the preparation of a short Heritage Action Statement for original 1803 Collins Settlement Area at Sorrento, a the Poverty Point Bridge (Baw Baw National Park), and partnership between Parks Victoria, NRE and Mornington more detailed Heritage Action (Conservation Management) Peninsula Shire Council. Plans for Pioneer Cemetery (Chiltern Box-Ironbark National Park), the forts at Point Nepean (Mornington Peninsula National Park), Reservoir Hut (Mount Buffalo National Park), Warby Falls weir and race (Warby Range State Park), Woodlands Homestead (Woodlands Historic Park) and Glenample Homestead;

• Public Heritage Program grants totalling $130 000 for major conservation works at Poverty Point Bridge (Baw Baw National Park), Heatherlie Quarry (Grampians National Park) and several historic shelters in Mount Buffalo National Park;

11 Visitor and Tourism Services

Port Campbell National Park

Information, Interpretation and Education Parks Victoria staff assisted in providing information for several publications relating to parks, including Discovering The provision of current and relevant information to visitors, Mount Buffalo (published by the Victorian National Parks potential visitors and other interested members of the public, Association), Wyperfeld – Australia’s First Mallee National plus high quality interpretation and education programs, are Park (published by the Friends of Wyperfeld) and a key aspects of park management. Information, Interpretation Mornington Peninsula walking map guide (published by and Education (II&E) are part of the core business of Parks Meridian Productions). Victoria’s management of parks. II&E programs are used to help manage visitor behaviour and public safety, to conserve Interpretation and protect park values, and to promote understanding of and support for park management policies and practices. Interpretation is the process of communicating natural and cultural values to visitors and the public. Carried out both as An integrated II&E training program was developed during a face-to-face activity and by means of signs, publications and the year to ensure that Parks Victoria staff have excellent other media, it is an important role of park agencies and skills in the planning and delivery of integrated II&E programs. other cultural institutions in Australia and around the world. The training program will be implemented in 2001-02. Face-to-face interpretation programs were run in a number of Information parks during the year, with activities such as campfire nights, slide shows, guided heritage walks and children’s activities Parks Victoria’s information line 13 1963 and website conducted by Parks Victoria staff, summer rangers, camp www.parkweb.vic.gov.au continued to provide a wide range hosts and other volunteers. It is estimated that more than of information on parks to many enquirers. There are 9000 people participated in these activities, all of which were parknotes for all national parks and for many of the other aimed at increasing people’s awareness and appreciation of parks under the Act, and most of the larger parks have the parks and their values. Examples of the programs are several parknotes. included in table 1. During the year, NRE, in conjunction with Geelong Otway In addition to the face-to-face interpretation programs, Tourism, Parks Victoria and Tourism Victoria, developed a interpretation facilities were expanded in a number of parks. web-based visitor information service which is being piloted Interpretive signs were installed in relation to the following: in the Great Ocean Road region. It is accessible at www.greatoutdoors.vic.gov.au. The service provides • Anakie Gorge Walk in Brisbane Ranges National Park; information about visitor opportunities in parks, forests and • Mackenzie Falls Track in the Grampians National Park; other public land from the websites of regional tourism associations and Tourism Victoria. • the ocean beaches of Mornington Peninsula National Park (in relation to Hooded Plovers);

• the Twelve Apostles at Port Campbell National Park;

• Mackillop Bridge in Snowy River National Park;

• a nature trail in Cape Conran Coastal Park.

12 Table 1 - Interpretation programs

Park Examples of activities No. of participants

Alpine NP and Mount Buffalo NP Guided walks, slide shows, spotlight walks 1286 (summer)

Croajingolong NP Spotlight walks, slide talks 400 (summer)

Dandenong Ranges NP Children’s activities 300

Grampians NP Guided walks, slide shows, spotlight walks 361 (Easter)

Mornington Peninsula NP Nature walks, heritage walks 235

Wilsons Promontory NP Junior Rangers, Rockpool Rambles, spotlight walks 4860 (summer) 800 (autumn/Easter)

Cape Conran CP Rockpool Rambles, geology walk, Breakfast with the Birds 584 (summer)

Table 2 - National park education centres – student numbers

Student category Dandenong Grampians NP Wilsons Ranges NP Promontory NP

Primary 1579 2706 3632

Secondary 1938 2424 3410

Tertiary/other 72 507 370

Total 3589 5637 7412

Most parknotes and information boards in parks are designed Dandenong Ranges National Park to be interpretive rather than purely factual in presentation. The Dandenong Ranges National Park Education Centre at New or upgraded displays were installed in several parks Fern Tree Gully was staffed by a teacher employed by the including Errinundra and Mount Buffalo National Parks and at Department of Employment, Education and Training on a the Twelve Apostles in Port Campbell National Park. Teacher Release to Industry Program. She worked closely with Wantirna Secondary College Environment Corps students who Education helped with park management, tree planting at Sherbrooke The main foci of the schools education program offered by Picnic Ground and removing weeds at the Fern Tree Gully Parks Victoria are the education centres at the Dandenong Picnic Ground. A Careers Discovery Day was also very Ranges, Grampians and Wilsons Promontory National successful, a second day being run due to high demand. In Parks and the education program website addition to term-time activities, the Education Officer and www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/education, which is an important ranger staff also ran a booked-out holiday activities program source of information for teachers and students. The for children, further increasing the park’s profile in the education centres continued to provide excellent service to local community. schools across the State. A total of 16 638 students visited Grampians National Park the three centres as part of education programs (table 2). The experienced seconded teacher at the Grampians National In addition to the three centres, rangers in many parks offered Park offered a range of activities and resources for all advice and information to teachers and students at all levels. education levels, both within the education room at the national park visitor centre and out in the park. One program which proved particularly popular was the Career Information Day. Park staff and guest speakers from such agencies as NRE, Conservation Volunteers of Australia and Greening Australia spoke to enthusiastic young students about what being a ranger really means and suitable subject choices and studies available.

13 Wilsons Promontory National Park Access and risk management

Some changes to the curriculum and timing of VCE units The safety of park visitors continues to be a paramount meant that Wilsons Promontory National Park had a objective for Parks Victoria. With a diverse range of park particularly busy first half of 2001 catering for VCE Outdoor settings and recreational activities to manage, and an ageing Education students. The education staff at the park were suite of park facilities and infrastructure to maintain, a wide- instrumental in participating in the ‘Virtual Research Project – ranging and systematic approach to visitor safety is Road Kills’ project. Schools are encouraged to enter road kill programmed. sightings on a Department of Employment, Education and Training website. This project proved popular with students Work undertaken during the year in the area of risk and teachers in local rural community schools. management and to ensure safe access included:

Education staff also worked closely with Gippsland Secondary • the replacement of several bridges in the West Kiewa College’s Environment Corps looking at the effects of valley in the Alpine National Park as part of upgrading ecological burning. Operation Prom, a two-day residential the power supply, partly funded by TXU professional development program for teachers, was Electricity Limited; successfully held for the fourth year. The education staff also • flood damage repairs at Brisbane Ranges National Park and played a major part in developing and supporting the summer ; and Easter interpretive activity programs in the park. • risk mitigation works on O’Shannassy Bridge in Yarra Ranges National Park, the Mount Warby lookout tower in Enhancing Park Visits Warby Range State Park, and the construction of a viewing platform at Cape Liptrap in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park; Visitor facilities • the replacement of the Phantom Falls footbridge in Works to provide new or improved visitor facilities included: Angahook-Lorne State Park and footbridges on Madsens • the completion and opening of the Taylors Crossing Track in Melba Gully State Park; suspension bridge on the Alpine Walking Track in the • the completion of works on dams at Lake Catani and The Alpine National Park; Reservoir (Mount Buffalo National Park) and Stage Four • the completion of works, including interpretive panels, on of the Lysterfield Lake Dam safety works in Lysterfield Genoa Peak in Croajingolong National Park; Lake Park.

• the construction of new lookouts at Mackenzie Falls and Access to Parks Program the Pinnacles in the Grampians National Park; The ongoing task of improving park access roads continued • the reconstruction of the South Channel Fort jetty in during the year. Projects completed in relation to parks under Mornington Peninsula National Park; the Act included those in table 3.

• the completion of new visitor facilities at the Twelve Four Wheel Drive Program Apostles comprising toilets, car park, road underpass, The annual Four Wheel Drive Program funding was allocated information and interpretation – most of this development to projects in 17 parks under the Act – Alpine, Errinundra, is located on leased private land adjacent to Port Campbell Grampians, Hattah-Kulkyne, Little Desert, Mitchell River, National Park; Murray-Sunset, Snowy River, Wyperfeld and Yarra Ranges • the installation of environmentally sound toilets in The National Parks, Angahook-Lorne, Barmah, Bunyip, Carlisle, Lakes National Park; Lerderderg and Mount Buangor State Parks, and Cape Conran Coastal Park. These projects enabled four-wheel drive • the redesign of the main park office and visitor centre at access to be maintained or improved by upgrading track Tidal River and improvements to the Sealers Cove walking surfaces, improving drainage and repairing creek crossings track in Wilsons Promontory National Park; and bridges, and also provided for works at some four-wheel • the construction of a new toilet at Venus Bay in Cape drive campsites. Liptrap Coastal Park. Maps showing the seasonal track closures in parks and forests across the State were produced for distribution from information centres, work centres and via stakeholder groups and Parks Victoria’s website.

14 Table 3 - Park access road projects

Park Work completed

Alpine NP Resealing sections of Tamboritha Road.

Cathedral Range SP Reconstruction of Little River Road.

Chiltern Box-Ironbark NP Surfacing of Lancashire Road.

Dandenong Ranges NP Spray sealing of section of Sherbrooke Lodge Road.

Grampians NP Reforming and grading of road surface on Halls Gap- Road.

Kara Kara SP Patching of existing bitumen on Teddington Road.

Kinglake NP Grading and drainage repairs to Masons Falls Road and Sugarloaf Road.

Kooyoora SP Surface repairs to Melville Caves Road.

Lerderderg SP Reforming and resurfacing of Mount Blackwood Road.

Lower Glenelg NP Resheeting of Wanwin Road between Dartmoor and Wilson Hall.

Mornington Peninsula NP Resheeting, resealing and drainage repairs on St Pauls Road and Boneo Road (car park).

The Lakes NP Resurfacing on Lake Reeve Track.

Werribee Gorge SP Surface grading and gravelling of Myers Road.

Yarra Ranges NP Grading and drainage repairs to Lady Talbot Drive.

Visits to Parks Parks Victoria manages the licensing of tour operators who operate in parks and reserves and, on behalf of NRE, on other Because of the inherent difficulties in estimating visit numbers public land such as State forest. Management of tour to parks, and to verify the standards used in monitoring the operator permits was streamlined during the year through the number of visits, Parks Victoria previously arranged for an development and roll-out of a Tour Operator Management audit of the methodologies used. This recommended a System (TOMS), a computer database system that makes number of changes to achieve adequate statistical reliability in permit information on tour operators accessible to all Parks visit number estimates. In light of the audit findings, use of Victoria staff. Its development enables efficient permit the previous system was discontinued in August 2000 and, processing and subsequent licence checking by field staff. consequently, no figures are included in this report. A new Eleven District Tour Operator Contact Officers were trained methodology was developed and piloted and will be fully during the year and will provide the first point of contact for tested in 2001-02. permit inquiries, in response to industry requests for clear points of contact. Licensed Tour Activities In the interests of improving the management of licensed tour Licensed tour operators play an important role in promoting operators, Parks Victoria and NRE have continued to foster the environmental and social values of Victoria’s parks and relationships with other tourism agencies and stakeholders, reserves, and in facilitating tourism and recreational use of and have liaised with other Australian park management these areas. As at 30 June 2001 there were 292 tour agencies on best practice. Stakeholders, particularly in relation operators licensed to operate on public land, the majority to the issue of increased public liability insurance costs which of which operate in areas managed under the National emerged during the year, include Tourism Victoria, Victorian Parks Act. Tour Operators Association, Office of Regulatory Reform and individual operators. Parks Victoria conducted regular information and training workshops for both staff and tour operators. These forums provided tour operators with the opportunity to raise important issues and share information with Parks Victoria and NRE.

15 Administration

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

Park Management Arrangements the Secretary about the operational elements of park management. The Secretary to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible under the National Parks Act for The relationship between NRE and Parks Victoria was ensuring that the parks and other areas under the Act are strengthened during the year through improved consultative managed in accordance with the Act. processes and the joint development of Parks Victoria’s 2001- 02 Corporate Plan. This and future plans will incorporate the Parks Victoria, established under the Parks Victoria Act 1998, annual Management Services Specification document referred is responsible through a Management Services Agreement to above as management services and priority actions for managing the parks and other areas on behalf of the required by the Secretary. This will result in more efficient Secretary. The specific services to be provided in 2000-01 administrative arrangements. were specified in a Management Services Specification document. This included an increased focus on the delivery Finance of conservation services. Parks Victoria’s Annual Report for 2000-01 provides information on its operations over the year. The 2000-01 expenditure in relation to areas managed under the Act was $70.69 million, compared with $69.25 million for The Parks, Flora and Fauna Division of NRE, on behalf of the 1999-2000 (table 4). Variations are due to various expenses Secretary, is responsible for overseeing the arrangements with incurred directly by Parks Victoria including increased salaries Parks Victoria, as well as providing strategic policy advice to and associated costs and access to carry-over funding from the Minister and the Secretary. Under the Act, the Director of the 1999-2000 financial year for various items. No abnormal National Parks (who is the person who is the Chief Executive items have been included in these figures. Officer of Parks Victoria) provides advice to the Minister and

Table 4 - 2000-01 expenditure ($000) for National Parks Act areas

Salaries & Operating Asset investment Other* Total on-costs funding

Parks Directorate, NRE 1 418 1 115 3 18 619 21 155

Parks Victoria 20 023 17 806 8 721 2 989 49 539

Total 21 441 18 921 8 724 21 608 70 694

* Other expenses include: • Parks Directorate, NRE Capital charge, Depreciation • Parks Victoria Community grants, Environmental initiative, Environmental research and strategy initiative, Good Neighbour Program, Rabbit Buster Program, Road and track maintenance (4WD Program, VicRoads)

16 Staff • enable specific grazing licences and leases associated with the Kiewa hydro-electric scheme to continue in relation to As at 30 June 2001, Parks Victoria had 984 direct employees the additions to the Alpine National Park; comprising 879 full-time staff, 41 part-time staff and 64 casual employees. They are involved in managing a wide • require the National Parks Advisory Council to advise on any range of areas, including areas under the National Parks Act, proposed park excision referred to it by the Minister and various Crown land reserves, and metropolitan parks and require that advice to be tabled in Parliament. waterways in Melbourne. Several staff work in more than one type of area. It is estimated that 262 rangers (including 24 National Parks (Marine National Parks and chief rangers) were engaged in managing areas under the Marine Sanctuaries) Bill Act. In addition, several project officers were working in This Bill, the purpose of which was to establish a Statewide parks, most of who were undertaking ranger duties. The system of 12 marine national parks and 10 marine seasonal ranger program was run again during the year, sanctuaries, was introduced into Parliament in the Autumn with 36 rangers based in areas under the Act. 2001 Parliamentary Sittings. It was subsequently withdrawn Various NRE staff, particularly in the Parks, Flora and Fauna when the Government was unable to gain support for key Division, also contributed to the parks program. provisions. The Government has indicated that it remains committed to establishing a comprehensive system of marine Legislation national parks.

Amendments to the Act Regulations

The National Parks Act was amended during the year by the The National Parks (Fees and Charges) Regulations 1990 were Water Industry (Amendment) Act 2000 and the National amended on 1 July 2000 to take into account GST and also Parks (Amendment) Act 2000. The amendments, which are on 4 July 2000 to round-up the fees for reasons of collection detailed further below, added areas to the parks system, efficiency. The regulations, which were due to expire on 18 established a process to deal with proposed excisions from December 2000, were extended on 17 October 2000 until parks, and refined the park administrative arrangements 17 December 2001. Work commenced on developing following the Government’s decision in April 2000 to retain replacement regulations. Parks Victoria. Work also commenced on new regulations to replace the Park Water Industry (Amendment) Act 2000 Regulations 1992, which will expire on 30 June 2002. The National Parks Act was amended by the relevant National Competition Policy review provisions of this Act (which mainly provides for the abolition of Melbourne Parks and Waterways by 1 December 2001) on In accordance with the State’s commitments under the inter- 9 November 2000. The main amendments: governmental Competition Principles Agreement, the Minister commissioned a National Competition Policy review of the Act • established that the person who is the Chief Executive as it relates to commercial activities in parks. An Issues Paper Officer of Parks Victoria is the Director of National Parks was released in October 2000 for public comment. for the purposes of the National Parks Act; • varied the function of the Director to that of advising the Consents and Leases Minister and the Secretary about the operational elements of management of land to which the National Parks Consents Act applies; Consents were given under section 27 of the Act in relation • included the Secretary (or her nominee) as a member of to the following parks for particular public authorities the National Parks Advisory Council. (defined in or declared under the Act) to carry out their functions in accordance with appropriate conditions: National Parks (Amendment) Act 2000 The remaining provisions of this Act came into operation on • Brisbane Ranges National Park – for Barwon Region 25 January 2001. In particular, they: Water Authority to install and maintain a seismograph on Fairleys Track; • added 13 261 hectares to five parks, as described in the Representative System section of this report (and excised • Mornington Peninsula National Park – for Hutchison 285 hectares from the Falls Creek Alpine Resort); Telecommunications (Australia) Limited to construct and operate a network base station telecommunications facility • enable deer hunting by stalking to continue in the at Sorrento; Wongungarra addition to the Alpine National Park;

17 • Mornington Peninsula National Park – for South East Water Following amendments to the Act in 2000, the Council now to provide a water storage and supply at Sorrento; comprises the Secretary (or her nominee), the Director of National Parks (who is the person who is the Chief Executive • Yarra Ranges National Park – for Hutchison Officer of Parks Victoria) and eight non-government Telecommunications (Australia) Limited to co-locate members. The membership of the Council as at 30 June 2001 telecommunication facilities on the Mount St Leonard was as follows: telecommunications facility. Convenor: Mr T Guthrie An omission from last year’s annual report was the consent Members: Mr T Allen granted for TXU Electricity Limited to install and operate a Mrs D Bray section of an underground powerline between Mount Mr R Gowans Hotham and Mount Beauty in the Alpine National Park. Mr I Harris Leases Mr A Heislers Cr J Palmer A lease was granted to Budsoda Pty Ltd for the management Ms D Slattery and operation of the ski fields at Cresta Valley and Dingo Dell Mr M Stone and Mount Buffalo Lodge in Mount Buffalo National Park. Dr B Wilson

Offences Alpine Advisory Committee A total of 327 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINS) were The Alpine Advisory Committee advises the Minister on issued for infringements against the National Parks Act and various matters related to the Alpine National Park. It met Park Regulations 1992 resulting in fines totalling $30 010. once during the year and provided advice on applications to The most common offences were: transfer five grazing licences over various areas of the park.

• bringing a dog into or allowing a dog to remain in a park The membership of the Committee as at 30 June 2001 was except in accordance with the regulations (103); as follows:

• bringing a vehicle into a park or an area of a park which is Convenor: Mrs M Howson closed to vehicles (83); Members: Mrs J Barnett Cr L Barraclough • entering or remaining upon any part of the designated Mr D Belle water supply catchment area in Yarra Ranges National Mrs S Charles-Jones Park (42); Mr D Evans • lighting or maintaining a fire except as prescribed (36); Mr J Hicks Mr D Johnston • illegal camping (15). Mr N Lester NRE prosecuted a total of 9 individuals for 14 offences under Mr W Morgan the Act or Regulations. The main offence was in relation to Mr G Rayner dogs in national parks (5). Fines totalling $1325 were issued Mr I Roper in relation to 7 offences, 3 defendants were placed on good Mr J Scales behaviour bonds in relation to 3 offences, 2 defendants Mrs S Reynolds gave undertakings in relation to 2 offences, and 2 charges Ms D Slattery remained to be heard as at 30 June 2001. In addition, Mr D Stevenson warning letters were issued in relation to another 13 offences. Other advisory committees

Advisory Bodies Section 14 of the Act enables the Minister to establish National Parks Advisory Council advisory committees to make recommendations to the Secretary relating to the care and control of a park or parks. The main functions of the National Parks Advisory Council There were no such committees in existence as at 30 June are to advise the Minister generally in relation to the 2001. However, Parks Victoria has established separate administration of the Act and on particular matters on advisory groups to assist it in its management of which its advice is required under the Act or is sought by various parks. the Minister. The Council’s Annual Report for 2000-01 provides information on its operations over the year.

18 Appendix 1

Land Managed under the B. Wilderness Parks (Schedule Two A) National Parks Act Wilderness Park Area (ha) at Area (ha) at 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 A. National Parks (Schedule Two) 1. Avon 39 650 39 650 National Park Area (ha) at Area (ha) at 2. Big Desert 142 300 142 300 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 3. Wabba 20 100 20 100 1. Alfred 3 050 3 050 2. Alpine 647 415 660 550 Total – Wilderness Parks 202 050 202 050 3. Baw Baw 13 530 13 530 4. Brisbane Ranges 7 718 7 718 C. State Parks (Schedule Two B) 5. Burrowa-Pine Mountain 18 400 18 400 State Park Area (ha) at Area (ha) at 6. Chiltern Box-Ironbark 4 320 4 320 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 7. Churchill 271 271 1. Angahook-Lorne 21 359 21 359 8. Coopracambra 38 800 38 800 2. Arthurs Seat 572 572 9. Croajingolong 87 500 87 500 3. Barmah 7 900 7 900 10. Dandenong Ranges 3 215 3 215 4. Black Range 11 700 11 700 11. Errinundra 26 875 26 875 5. Bunyip 16 560 16 560 12. French Island 11 100 11 100 6. Cape Nelson 210 210 13. Grampians 167 219 167 219 7. Carlisle 5 600 5 600 14. Hattah-Kulkyne 48 000 48 000 8. Cathedral Range 3 616 3 616 15. Kinglake 21 600 21 600 9. Dergholm 10 400 10 400 16. Lake Eildon 27 750 27 750 10. Enfield 4 400 4 400 17. Lind 1 370 1 370 11. Holey Plains 10 641 10 641 18. Little Desert 132 647 132 647 12. Kamarooka 7 273 7 367 19. Lower Glenelg 27 300 27 300 13. Kara Kara 3 868 3 868 20. Mitchell River 11 900 11 900 14. Kooyoora 3 593 3 593 21. Mornington Peninsula 2 686 2 686 15. Langi Ghiran 2 695 2 695 22. Morwell 396 396 16. Leaghur 1 580 1 580 23. Mount Buffalo 31 000 31 000 17. Lerderderg 14 250 14 250 24. Mount Eccles 5 470 5 470 18. Melba Gully 65 65 25. Mount Richmond 1 733 1 733 19. Moondarra 6 292 6 292 26. Murray-Sunset 633 000 633 000 20. -Tooan 5 061 5 061 27. Organ Pipes 121 134 21. Mount Buangor 2 400 2 400 28. Otway 12 900 12 900 22. Mount Granya 6 140 6 140 29. Port Campbell 1 750 1 750 23. Mount Lawson 13 150 13 150 30. Snowy River 98 700 98 700 24. 2 800 2 800 31. Tarra-Bulga 1 522 1 522 25. Mount Samaria 7 600 7 600 32. Terrick Terrick 3 770 3 770 26. Mount Worth 1 040 1 040 33. The Lakes 2 390 2 390 27. Paddys Ranges 1 675 1 675 34. Wilsons Promontory 49 000 49 000 28. Warby Range 7 600 7 600 35. Wyperfeld 357 017 357 017 29. Warrandyte 676 676 36. Yarra Ranges 76 000 76 003 30. Werribee Gorge 575 575 31. Whipstick 2 303 2 303 Total – National Parks 2 577 435 2 590 586 Total – State Parks 183 594 183 688

19 D. Other Parks (Schedule Three) F. Wilderness Zones (Schedule Five)

Other Park Area (ha) at Area (ha) at Wilderness zones are located within several national parks, 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 as set out below. The areas of the wilderness zones are included in the areas of the relevant parks in part A of 1. Bay of Islands CP 950 950 this appendix. 2. Beechworth HP 1 130 1 130 3. Cape Conran CP 11 700 11 700 National Park Wilderness Zone Area (ha) 4. Cape Liptrap CP 4 175 4 175 1. Murray-Sunset Sunset 126 900 5. Discovery Bay CP 10 460 10 460 2. Minook 38 700 6. Gippsland Lakes CP 17 584 17 600 3. Galpunga 35 700 7. Haining Farm 66 66 4. Mount Cowra 23 500 8. Lake Albacutya Park 8 300 8 300 5. Wyperfeld North Wyperfeld 97 900 9. Langwarrin FFR 214 214 6. South Wyperfeld 61 300 10. Lysterfield Lake Park 1 397 1 397 7. Chinaman Flat 29 800 11. Murray-Kulkyne Park 3 530 3 530 8. Alpine Mount Darling-Snowy Bluff 40 400 12. Reef Hills Park 2 040 2 040 9. Razor-Viking 15 700 13. Steiglitz HP 469 469 10. Indi 13 800 14. Tyers Park 1 810 1 810 11. Cobberas 10 000 15. Woodlands HP 704 704 12. Buchan Headwaters 30 000 13. Tingaringy 7 900 Total – Other Parks 64 529 64 545 14. Snowy River Snowy River 27 000 CP Coastal Park 15. Bowen 17 500 FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve HP Historic Park 16. Coopracambra Genoa 19 400 17. Croajingolong Sandpatch 15 600 E. Other Parks and Reserves (Schedule Four) 18. Cape Howe 7 100 Other Park or Reserve Area (ha) at Area (ha) at 19. Wilsons Wilsons 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 Promontory Promontory 21 800

1. Bunurong MP 1 660 1 660 Total – Wilderness Zones 640 000 2. Corner Inlet MCP 18 000 18 000 3. Deep Lead FFR 1 120 1 120 G. Remote and Natural Areas (Schedule Six) 4. Nooramunga MCP 15 000 15 000 Remote and natural areas are located within several national 5. Shallow Inlet MCP 2 000 2 000 parks, as set out below. The areas of the remote and natural 6. Wilsons Promontory MP areas are included in the areas of the relevant parks in part and A of this appendix. 7. Wilsons Promontory MR 10 000 10 000 National Park Remote and Area Natural Area (ha) Total – Other Parks & Reserves 47 780 47 780 1. Murray-Sunset South Sunset 24 000 FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve 2. Wyperfeld Hopping Mouse Hill 32 100 MCP Marine and Coastal Park MP Marine Park 3. Little Desert Little Desert 16 400 MR Marine Reserve 4. Grampians Victoria Range 14 000 5. Serra Range 11 200 6. Major Mitchell Plateau 6 900 7. Baw Baw Baw Baw Plateau 6 500 8. Alpine The Governors 8 100 9. Macalister 33 300 10. Dandongadale 3 700 11. Bundara-Cobungra 13 700 12. Bogong 16 300

20 13. Davies Plain 10 500 BR Bushland Reserve FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve 14. Suggan Buggan 17 800 FR Flora Reserve 15. Upper Snowy 11 800 PPR Public Purposes Reserve 16. Mount Buffalo North Buffalo 6 500 SLR Scenic Lookout Reserve * Areas to which sections 19B, 19D and 32 apply are not subject 17. Burrowa-Pine to the general provisions of the Act. Mountain Mount Burrowa *6 200 + Taminick Flora Reserve was included in Warby Range State Park on 18. Errinundra Brodribb 7 700 23 August 1989 but continued to be listed as a non-scheduled area in successive annual reports until this year. 19. Coopracambra 8 100 20. Croajingolong Rame Head9 800 Area Summary - Land Managed under 21. Wilsons Wilsons Promontory the National Parks Act Promontory Islands (11) 450 Category Area (ha) at Area (ha) at Total – Remote and Natural Areas 265 050 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 National Parks * Stated incorrectly in the Act as 6500 ha. (Schedule Two) 2 577 435 2 590 586 H. Other Areas (Non-scheduled) Wilderness Parks (Schedule Two A) 202 050 202 050 Area Section of Area (ha) at Area (ha) at NP Act* 30 June 2000 30 June 2001 State Parks (Schedule Two B) 183 594 183 688 1. Bald Hills BR 19B 1 1 Other Parks 2. Collins Settlement (Schedule Three) 64 529 64 545 Historic Site 19B 1 1 Other parks and reserves 3. Flinders FR 19B 1 1 (Schedule Four) 47 780 47 780 4. Flinders Natural Other areas Interest Reserve 19B 4 4 (non-scheduled) 4 514 4 508 5. Johanna BR 19B 64 64 Total 3 079 902 3 093 157 6. Long Forest FR 19B 283 283 7. Lower Glenelg SLR and PPR 19B 24 24 Unproclaimed Areas 8. Main Ridge FR 19B 64 64 Legislation provides for the following future additions 9. Moreep BR 19B 10 10 to parks. 10. Nyerimilang Park 19B 200 200 Act/park Section of Act Area (ha) 11. Recreation National Parks (Amendment) Act 1989 Reserve, Otway 19B 1 1 - Moondarra SP 29(3) 178 - Taminick FR 19B 6 + National Parks (Yarra Ranges and Other Amendments) 12. Wychitella FFR 19B 3 780 3 780 Act 1995 13. Mt St Gwinear - Melba Gully SP 31(b) 8 access 19C 35 35 Total – Unproclaimed Areas 186 14. Commonwealth land adjacent to Woodlands Historic Park 19D 31 31 15. Loch Ard and Cape Otway Public Cemeteries 32 1 1 16. Glenample Homestead 32AA 8 8

Total – Other Areas 4 514 4 508

21 Appendix 2

Pest Plant Control Projects Langwarrin FFR Blackberry, Coast Tea-tree, introduced grasses, Sallow Wattle, Weed control projects budgeted at more than $2000 and Sweet Pittosporum targeting one or more of the species listed below were carried Leaghur SP Patersons Curse, Spiny Rush out in the following areas under the Act during the year. Lerderderg SP Gorse Park Pest plant Little Desert NP Bridal Creeper, Cape Tulip Alpine NP Blackberry, Briar, Cape Broom, Lower Glenelg NP Banana Passionfruit, Blackberry, English Broom, Ox-eye Daisy, Bluebell Creeper, Boneseed, Box-thorn, Paterson’s Curse, Pine, St John’s Wort, Coast Tea-tree, Paterson’s Curse, Pine, Soft Rush, Spear Thistle, Sweet Briar, Polygala, Sweet Pittosporum Twiggy Mullein, Viper's Bugloss, Main Ridge FR Sweet Pittosporum Yarrow Mitchell River NP Ragwort, Blackberry Angahook-Lorne SP Blackberry, Boneseed, Box-thorn, Mornington Peninsula NP Blackberry, Box-thorn, Bridal Creeper, Coast Wattle, Pine, Ragwort, St John's Wort, Wandering Jew Polygala, Sweet Pittosporum, Ragwort, Sea Spurge Arthurs Seat SP Berry Heath, Boneseed, Sweet Pittosporum Morwell NP Blackberry, Ragwort Barmah SP Arrowhead, Bathurst Burr, Blackberry, Mount Buffalo NP Blackberry, Himalayan Honeysuckle, Golden Dodder, Horehound, Japanese Honeysuckle, Tutsan Noogoora Burr, Paterson’s Curse, Mount Napier SP African Daisy, Blackberry, Box-thorn, Saffron Thistle, Sweet Briar, Willow Cape Tulip, Gorse, Paterson’s Curse, Baw Baw NP Willow St John's Wort Beechworth HP Blackberry Mount Samaria SP Blackberry Brisbane Ranges NP Gorse Mount Worth SP Blackberry, Ragwort Bunyip SP Blackberry, Ragwort, Spanish Heath Murray-Sunset NP African Box-thorn, Bridal Creeper Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP Blackberry, English Broom, Paterson’s Nooramunga MCP Ragwort, Thistle Curse, St John's Wort, Tree of Heaven Organ Pipes NP African Box-thorn, Artichoke Thistle, Cape Liptrap CP Box-thorn, Californian Thistle, Ragwort Horehound, Reseda, Serrated Tussock, Cathedral Range SP Blackberry, Tutsan Sweet Briar Croajingolong NP Agapanthus, Arum Lily, Blackberry, Otway NP Blackberry, Ragwort, St John's Wort Blue Periwinkle, Bridal Creeper, Port Campbell NP Blackberry, Pampas, Ragwort Cape Ivy, Cape Tulip, Dolicos Pea, Snowy River NP Blackberry, Ox-eye Daisy, Pine, Wandering Jew St John’s Wort Dandenong Ranges NP Blackberry, Bluebell Creeper, Cape Steiglitz HP Gorse Broom, Cestrum, English Broom, Terrick Terrick NP African Box-thorn, Horehound, English Ivy, Himalayan Honeysuckle, Holly Sycamore, Karamu, Sycamore Patersons Curse, Soursob Maple, Ragwort, Sweet Pittosporum, The Lakes NP Blackberry, Box-thorn, Cape Broom, Tutsan, Wandering Jew Horehound, Parrots Feather, Deep Lead FFR Bridal Creeper, Horehound Ragwort, Willow Dergholm SP African Feather-grass, Blackberry, Warby Range SP St John's Wort Cape Tulip, Paterson’s Curse, Pine Warrandyte SP Blackberry, Bridal Creeper, French Island NP African Box-thorn, Blackberry, Bridal Canary-grass, Crack Willow, Creeper, Cape Tulip, Cluster Pine, Pittosporum, Rubens Reed, Monterey Pine, Sweet Pittosporum Square-stem, St John's Wort Grampians NP Blackberry, Bridal Creeper, Werribee Gorge SP Serrated Tussock St John's Wort Wilsons Promontory NP Coast Tea-tree Hattah-Kulkyne NP African Box-thorn, Bridal Creeper, Woodlands HP Cape Tulip, Paterson’s Curse Horehound, Olives, Prickly Pear Wychitella FFR Paterson's Curse Holey Plains SP Ragwort Wyperfeld NP Bridal Creeper, Caltrop, Erect Prickly Kamarooka SP Bridal Creeper, Chilean Needle-grass, Pear, Horehound, Paterson’s Curse, English Broom, Horehound Silverleaf Nightshade, Wheel Cactus Kinglake NP Blackberry, Serrated Tussock Yarra Ranges NP Blackberry, Cestrum, Gorse, Ragwort, Lake Eildon NP Blackberry St John's Wort

22 Appendix 3

Pest Animal Control Projects Organ Pipes NP Cattle, goat, rabbit Otway NP Fox, rabbit Pest animal control projects budgeted at more than $2000 and targeting one or more of the species listed below Paddys Ranges SP Fox, rabbit were carried out in the following areas under the Act Port Campbell NP Cat, fox, rabbit during the year. Reef Hills Park Fox, rabbit Snowy River NP Dog, fox, rabbit

Park Pest animal Tarra-Bulga NP Fox Terrick Terrick NP Fox, rabbit Alpine NP Cat, dog, fox, goat, rabbit The Lakes NP Fox Barmah SP Fox, pig, rabbit Warby Range SP Fox, rabbit Baw Baw NP Fox, rabbit Warrandyte SP Rabbit Brisbane Ranges NP Fox, pig, rabbit Werribee Gorge SP Fox, rabbit Bunyip SP Cat, dog, fox Wilsons Promontory NP Fox, rabbit Chiltern Box-Ironbark NP Fox, rabbit Woodlands HP Cat, fox, rabbit Coopracambra NP Fox, pig Wychitella FFR Fox Croajingolong NP Cat Wyperfeld NP Dog, feral bee, fox, rabbit Dandenong Ranges NP Fox Yarra Ranges NP Cat, dog Deep Lead FFR Rabbit Dergholm SP Fox, rabbit Discovery Bay CP Fox, rabbit French Island NP Goat Gippsland Lakes CP Fox Grampians NP Fox, rabbit Hattah-Kulkyne NP Goat, pig, rabbit Holey Plains SP Fox Kamarooka SP Fox, rabbit Kinglake NP Pig Lake Eildon NP Cattle, goat, rabbit Leaghur SP Fox, rabbit Lerderderg SP Fox, goat Little Desert NP Feral bee, fox, goat, rabbit Long Forest FR Fox, rabbit Mitchell River NP Dog, goat Mornington Peninsula NP Fox, pig Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP Fox, rabbit Mount Samaria SP Rabbit Murray-Sunset NP Fox, goat, rabbit Nooramunga MCP Fox

23 Appendix 4

Key Locations of Parks and 42. Glenample Homestead 83. Tyers Park Other Areas 43. Loch Ard and Cape Otway 84. Mount Worth SP Public Cemeteries 1. Hattah-Kulkyne NP 85. Bunurong MP 44. Port Campbell NP 2. Murray-Kulkyne Park 86. Morwell NP 45. Otway NP 3. Murray-Sunset NP 87. Tarra-Bulga NP 46. Angahook-Lorne SP 4. Big Desert WP 88. Cape Liptrap CP 47. Mornington Peninsula NP 5. Wyperfeld NP 89. Shallow Inlet MCP 48. Flinders NIR 6. Lake Albacutya Park 90. Corner Inlet MCP 49. Flinders FR 7. Little Desert NP 91. Wilsons Promontory NP 50. French Island NP 8. Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP 92. Wilsons Promontory MP 51. Bald Hills BR 9. Dergholm SP 93. Wilsons Promontory MR 52. Main Ridge FR 10. Black Range SP 94. Nooramunga MCP 53. Arthurs Seat SP 11. Deep Lead FFR 95. Holey Plains SP 54. Collins Settlement HS 12. Grampians NP 96. Gippsland Lakes CP 55. Langwarrin FFR 13. Lower Glenelg NP 97. The Lakes NP 56. Churchill NP 14. Discovery Bay CP 98. Mitchell River NP 57. Lysterfield Lake Park 15. Lower Glenelg SLR & PPR 99. Nyerimilang Park 58. Bunyip SP 16. Mount Richmond NP 100. Snowy River NP 59. Haining Farm 17. Cape Nelson SP 101. Errinundra NP 60. Dandenong Ranges NP 18. Mount Eccles NP 102. Lind NP 61. Warrandyte SP 19. Mount Napier SP 62. Organ Pipes NP 103. Cape Conran CP 20. Langi Ghiran SP 63. Woodlands HP and adjacent 104. Alfred NP 21. Mount Buangor SP Commonwealth land 105. Coopracambra NP 22. Kara Kara SP 64. Kinglake NP 106. Croajingolong NP 23. Paddys Ranges SP 65. Yarra Ranges NP 24. Kooyoora SP 66. Cathedral Range SP 25. Wychitella FFR 67. Lake Eildon NP 26. Leaghur SP 68. Mount Samaria SP 27. Terrick Terrick NP 69. Reef Hills Park 28. Kamarooka SP 70. Barmah SP BR Bushland Reserve 29. Whipstick SP 71. Warby Range SP CP Coastal Park 30. Enfield SP 72. Chiltern Box-Ironbark NP FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve 31. Lerderderg SP 73. Beechworth HP FR Flora Reserve 32. Long Forest FR 74. Mount Granya SP HP Historic Park 33. Werribee Gorge SP 75. Mount Lawson SP HS Historic Site MCP Marine and Coastal Park 34. Moreep BR 76. Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP MP Marine Park 35. Brisbane Ranges NP 77. Wabba WP MR Marine Reserve 36. Steiglitz HP 78. Alpine NP NIR Natural Interest Reserve 37. Carlisle SP 79. Mount Buffalo NP NP National Park 38. Recreation Reserve, Otway 80. Avon WP PPR Public Purposes Reserve 39. Melba Gully SP 81. Baw Baw NP and SLR Scenic Lookout Reserve 40. Bay of Islands CP Mt St Gwinear access SP State Park 41. Johanna BR 82. Moondarra SP WP Wilderness Park

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