2001 2002 Annual report NSW national Parks & Wildlife service Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service PO Box 1967, Hurstville 2220 Copyright © National Parks and Wildlife Service 2002 ISSN 0158-0965 Coordinator: Christine Sultana Editor: Catherine Munro Design and layout: Harley & Jones design Printed by: Agency Printing Front cover photos (from top left): Sturt National Park (G Robertson/NPWS); Bouddi National Park (J Winter/NPWS); Banksias, Gibraltar Range National Park Copies of this report are available from the National Parks Centre, (P Green/NPWS); Launch of Backyard Buddies program (NPWS); Pacific black duck 102 George St, The Rocks, Sydney, phone 1300 361 967; or (P Green); Beyers Cottage, Hill End Historic Site (G Ashley/NPWS). NPWS Mail Order, PO Box 1967, Hurstville 2220, phone: 9585 6533. Back cover photos (from left): Python tree, Gossia bidwillii (P Green); Repatriation of Aboriginal remains, La Perouse (C Bento/Australian Museum); This report can also be downloaded from the NPWS website: Rainforest, Nightcap National Park (P Green/NPWS); Northern banjo frog (J Little). www.npws.nsw.gov.au Inside front cover: Sturt National Park (G Robertson/NPWS). Annual report 2001-2002 NPWS mission G Robertson/NPWS NSW national Parks & Wildlife service 2 Contents Director-General’s foreword 6 3Conservation management 43 Working with Aboriginal communities 44 Overview Joint management of national parks 44 Mission statement 8 Aboriginal heritage 46 Role and functions 8 Outside the reserve system 47 Customers, partners and stakeholders 8 Voluntary conservation agreements 47 Organisational structure 8 Wildlife refuges 48 Legal basis 9 Biodiversity conservation programs 48 Organisational chart 10 Wildlife management 49 Lands managed for conservation 12 Ecologically sustainable management 50 Key result areas 14 Energy management 50 Waste management 51 1Conservation assessment 15 Sewage management 52 NSW Biodiversity strategy 16 Managing built assets 53 Regional assessments 17 Buildings and surrounds 53 Wilderness assessment 20 Managing historic heritage sites 54 Vegetation and flora surveys and mapping 22 Roads and other access 55 Wetland and river system survey and research 23 Visitor facilities 56 Native fauna surveys and research 24 Managing site use in protected areas 57 Threat management research 27 Balancing site use and conservation 57 Cultural heritage research 29 Contributing to communities 58 Conservation research and assessment tools 31 Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area 58 Contributing to sustainable rural and 2Conservation planning 33 regional development 59 Biodiversity planning 34 Tourism 59 Establishment of parks and reserves 35 Weed and pest management programs 60 Declaration of Aboriginal places 37 Pest animal management 60 Plans of management 38 Weed management 65 Threatened species planning 39 Fire management 67 Cultural heritage planning 40 Prevention and mitigation activities 67 Marine park planning 41 Fire management training 68 Other conservation planning 41 Coordinated fire fighting 68 Reserve fire management plans 69 NSW Biodiversity Strategy – fire regimes 69 Wildfire statistics for parks and reserves 69 Ku-ring-gai tragedy update 70 3 2001 2002 Annual report 4Conservation facilitation 71 Improved efficiency and support for service delivery 94 Fostering commitment to natural and cultural heritage 72 Financial management 94 Acknowledging people’s contributions to conservation 72 Risk management 94 Educational programs 72 Insurance 95 NPWS library 75 Information management and technology 96 Publications review 75 Corporate governance 96 Visitor centres 75 Enhancing and managing resources for conservation 99 International liaison 76 Business planning 99 Media and promotion 77 Grants and sponsorships 99 Electronic service delivery 79 Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife 101 Increasing community involvement in conservation 79 Concessions management 101 Volunteer and community programs 79 Enhancing people's enjoyment of 6 Appendices 103 NSW parks 81 A. NPWS-managed lands at 30 June 2002 104 Visitor data system 81 B. Significant statutory bodies and committees 109 Recreation planning framework for C. Infringements and prosecutions 113 NSW national parks 81 D. Consultants engaged 114 Visitor and market research 81 E. Employee statistics 115 Working with our culturally diverse community 82 F. Performance statement: Director-General 118 Improving access and services for people with disabilities 82 G. Statement of Affairs and Freedom of Information 119 Supporting community conservation H. New NPWS publications 121 activities 82 I. Papers published by NPWS staff 123 Information services 82 J. Overseas visits by NPWS staff 125 Conservation partnerships 83 K. Approved recovery plans 126 Inter-agency and whole-of-government intitatives 85 7 Financial statements 127 5 Capacity building 89 Notes to and forming part of financial statements 136 Attracting, developing and Other financial information 152 retaining a skilled workforce 90 Performance management 90 Index of statutory requirements 157 Learning and organisational development 90 Management development 90 Contact information 157 Workforce diversity 91 Employment and industrial relations 92 Occupational health and safety 93 Working as a cohesive and informed team 93 4 Python tree, Gossia bidwillii. P Green 5 2001 2002 Annual report The Hon. Bob Debus, MP Minister for the Environment Level 25 59-61 Goulburn Street Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Minister I have pleasure in presenting the thirty-fourth Annual Report for the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service for the year ended 30 June 2002, in accordance with the Annual Reports (Departments) Act 1985. Yours sincerely Brian Gilligan Director-General 6 Director-General’s foreword This report describes a year marked by substantial progress towards the achievement of our conservation objectives. It has been also a year in which we have focused particularly on developing and strengthening a learning culture within the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Our stakeholder base continues to expand, well beyond its traditional boundaries. While this increases the challenges we face in balancing the diversity of community views and expectations, the growing engagement of community interest in conservation matters is a valuable asset for the future. In the Far West, community partnership has been a feature in the Wilcannia/ White Cliffs area. Here, neighbours, local tourist interests, Central Darling Shire, the regional advisory committee and the Wilcannia Aboriginal community have come together to advise on the establishment of Peery National Park and its plan of management. This cooperative and constructive approach has given us valuable insights into community values and aspirations, providing a useful model for the future. Aboriginal culture is a key aspect of land and biodiversity management which the Service promotes and implements at every opportunity. In recognition of Aboriginal people’s close and enduring relationship with the land, we continue to develop co- management and partnership agreements across the state. One major highlight in 2001-02 was the registration of the Arakwal Indigenous Land Use Agreement and the creation of Arakwal National Park, co-managed by the NPWS and the Arakwal people. Other highlights were the endorsement of the Mungo National Park Joint Management Agreement and arrangements with the Barkindji, Mutthi Mutthi, and Nyiampaa people, and the continuing success of the joint management of Mutawintji National Park. The year has not been without its challenges. Both past and more recent decision- making and action have been exposed to significant public scrutiny throughout the year. At times, the effort devoted to reconciling and learning from past episodes has seemed to overshadow more recent achievements. This has particularly been the case in sensitive aspects of our operations, such as bushfire hazard reduction, feral animal control and risk management in the area of public safety. However, lessons learned have been quickly translated into action across the agency. Our new fire management procedures were developed and published in time for what proved to be a severe and testing fire season. The public recognition accorded to our firefighters and those from other agencies was well deserved. In the wake of the Christmas 2001 fires, we were concerned about the potential impact of feral deer on habitat recovery in Royal National Park. Extensive consultation with stakeholders, including neighbours was key to deciding to proceed with a sustained culling program. New approaches to managing wild horses were introduced in Kosciuszko National Park, after extensive consultation with the local community and interest groups. Also in the state’s south, calls for improved control of wild dogs have seen us working collaboratively with local landholders, all the time ensuring that our approach was underpinned by robust science and conservation principles. 7 2001 2002 Annual report The challenges of managing change, and facilitating organisational growth and learning have been supported across the NPWS by a range of initiatives. Our ongoing change management program this year continued to focus on team building, with an emphasis on further strengthening middle managers’ skills and capacity to manage both sensitive issues and their staff teams. The implementation of the NPWS Linkages Strategy Groups is helping us to integrate new initiatives across our operations, to