Nature's Voice edition 15 - April-May 2013

Nature’s Voice

Victorian National Parks Association newsletter

Number 16 | April-May 2013

‘For sale’ sign hung on national parks Matt Ruchel VNPA Executive Director

O

n Easter Sunday the State Government released Guidelines for Tourism Investment in National Parks that essentially put a ‘for sale’ sign on two-thirds of Victoria’s national parks estate.

The primary role of national parks is the conservation of nature. Our parks were not created to end up as building sites for hotels and large-scale infrastructure that can only be used by a wealthy and privileged few.

National parks are of course a tourism drawcard, but we must not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The government proposes to give developers up to 99-year leases (essentially freehold), and invites applications for developments without specifying particular parks or areas.

The guidelines, which consist of a number of vague guiding principles, outline a five-stage approval process with weak provisions for community consultation. In fact, they talk only about public notification.

Alarmingly, it’s not until the completion of a full proposal that a detailed environmental management plan will be required, leaving no opportunity for community comment on that critical aspect.

We have many concerns with the

Inside

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Merge swallows environment dept

National parks are for conservation, education and enjoyment of nature, not luxury hotels.

Photo: Paul Sinclair

guidelines, including that: • They are vague and unmeasurable.

• The approval process is flawed and lacks opportunities for the community to comment on ecological impacts.

• They are inconsistent with the government’s previous commitments, and ignore long-standing principles and processes of park management.

• There is no funding model demonstrating benefits for parks from commercial development.

For details and to help stop this madness go to handsoff.vnpa.org.au

Point Nepean Quarantine Station The 17ha Quarantine Station in Point

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Prospecting in national parks

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Nepean National Park appears to be the first focus of attention for commercial development.

In early April, the government released the finalised Point Nepean NP Master Plan and a Sustainable Use and Tourism Framework for the Quarantine Station. An Expression of Interest (EOI) will be released in coming weeks According to the government, the EOI is “designed to enable it [the government] to enter into a long-term lease with a private investor or operator for investment in and use of part or the whole of the Quarantine Station Site”.

The master plan did not appear Continued page 2

Recreational fishing not off the hook

Environment demoted in merged department P remier Denis Napthine has launched a charm and spin offensive, particularly around the environment.

He says he thinks “this old-style debate between brown and green is a thing of the past”, and said that Victoria’s approach to managing the environment would remain the same.

But to date the Victorian Coalition government has been all ‘brown’ – it has done nothing but take backward steps on green issues.

Previous Liberal state governments ran numerous investigations leading to new national parks, and introduced Victoria’s first biodiversity strategy.

But the Nationals have clear policies against new national parks and do not support VEAC. So far, things are looking bleak with the recent merging of the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Department of Primary Industries into one mega-department, led by

agriculture minister and Victorian Nationals deputy leader Peter Walsh.

It appears Mr Walsh is running the agenda as senior minister, with environment minister Ryan Smith missing in action on the nature conservation front.

We hope the new premier can stop undermining nature conservation gains made over decades.

– Nick Roberts, Red Gum and River Rescue Project Coordinator

Alpine National Park management in limbo V

ictoria’s high country parks, including our great Alpine National Park, are in a bit of a management hiatus. A new management plan for the alpine parks, first proposed in 2008, has yet to appear.

We understand a draft developed

by Parks Victoria has been with the environment minister now for many months, but has not been released for public comment.

One reason might be that DSE (now the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, DEPI), which technically oversees Parks Victoria, has a policy of NOT having park management plans.

For several years now, they have proposed a series of landscape-scale management plans for Victoria’s public land. But they haven’t come up with the goods either – not even a draft.

Nature’s Voice Editor: Michael Howes Design: John Sampson Nature’s Voice is a quarterly newsletter. The deadline for our our July-August edition is 24 June.

Address: Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton 3053 Tel: 03 9347 5188 Fax: 03 9347 5199 Website: www.vnpa.org.au Email: vnpa@vnpa.org.au ABN: 34 217 717 593 ISSN: 1837-6681 SAVE PAPER! To receive Nature’s Voice by email, please contact us on 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au 2 – Nature’s Voice | No 16 | April-May 2013

VNPA volunteers search for willows during the February working weekend in the Alpine NP. Photo: Charles Street

In the meantime, Parks Victoria is working hard on a strategy to deal with the Alpine National Park’s rapidly growing population of feral horses.

They want to release a series of information sheets, so the public

can be fully aware of the issue. But these information sheets are also, we believe, gathering dust on the minister’s desk.

Anyone got a plan?

... from page 1 to diverge significantly from earlier drafts, although the Victorian environment minister would not specify height limits for potential new buildings in the historic precinct.

Previously Commonwealth land, the Quarantine Station has only been part of the national park since 2009.

Most people accept that there could be various forms of activity, including accommodation, at the station, as long as this is managed sensitively within the existing footprint and historic fabric of the site.

However, key concerns include:

• The possibility of large new high-rise buildings, which would compromise the historical, landscape and environmental values of the site.

• Exclusive use by a private owner which could exclude general public access.

• A proposed new jetty, with possible ‘over-sea’ accommodation, which would be in a sensitive part of Port Phillip Bay and within a dolphin sanctuary.

– Phil Ingamells, Park Protection Project

The government’s documents can be seen at dse.vic.gov.au/recreation-andtourism/point-nepean-national-parkmaster-plan-and-quarantine-station Victorian National Parks Association

A prospector at Reedy Creek, Chiltern Mount Pilot National Park, with a pump powered sluicing apparatus, which allows him to simply shovel an unlimited amount of river gravel into a sluice box.

Photo: Phil Ingamells

Is this any way to treat our national parks?

A

t the end of May, the Victorian Government will have before it a series of recommendations on where (not if) gold prospecting should be allowed in many of Victoria’s finest national parks and heritage rivers.

In a secret deal with the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria (PMAV), the government has already decided that prospectors will be allowed into some or all of the Alpine, Mitchell River, Baw Baw, Lind, Croajingolong, Errinundra, Yarra Ranges and Lake Eildon national parks, and Lerderderg State Park.

This is happening despite the fact that prospecting clearly damages natural areas, and is very poorly regulated in Victoria.

In NSW, for example, a prospector can disturb up to half a cubic metre of soil a day – more than enough damage you would think. But in Victoria, as long as only hand tools are used, prospectors can create unlimited havoc digging out gravel from a creek www.vnpa.org.au

Phil Ingamells Park Protection Project

bank all day while a motor-driven pump and sluice box do the gold panning for them.

Prospecting should not be allowed in any national parks in the state, and it should be properly regulated and monitored wherever else it exists in Victoria.

Prospecting silts up waterways, disturbs heavy metal deposits from early gold workings, encourages the spread of weeds and dangerous pathogens such as Phytophthora and threatens a number of rare species, including many ground orchids.

Prospectors also have a remarkable propensity for making new (and illegal) roads and tracks. It seems they don’t greatly like walking to their chosen destination. Recently, a prospector

even dug up Maryborough’s hallowed football field.

The VNPA wrote to the Victorian environment minister, Ryan Smith, asking him to alter the terms of reference he set for the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s prospecting in parks investigation.

We said he should allow VEAC to say there should be no prospecting in parks.

He replied that it is “the Government’s policy for public land that it belongs to all Victorians, and that equitable access to public land opportunities should be provided, whilst ensuring appropriate environmental safeguards are in place”.

He added that he has no intention of altering VEAC’s terms of reference.

That seems to mean that almost any activity could be the go in national parks.

VEAC’s recommendations are due at the end of May. To see more images of the damage being caused to our parks visit dontdigupourparks.vnpa.org.au Nature’s Voice | No 16 | May 2013 – 3

Iron ore mining threat to foodbowl A

new threat to the highly fragmented and environmentally stressed Goulburn-Broken catchment of northern Victoria is on the horizon.

Landscape-scale conservation, water quality and farming values are all at risk from the threat of largescale open cut mining. The company Victorian Iron is exploring for iron ore in land around Shepparton, Benalla and Bendigo.

The mining would involve excavation of the soil to several metres in depth, and would impact on high-value agricultural land as well as threatened

Nick Roberts Riverside Rescue Coordinator

native vegetation communities and species.

Much of the Shepparton region has highly saline water tables less than two metres below the surface.

These floodplain catchment areas feed the Broken and Goulburn rivers. The Goulburn is currently the largest net

exporter of salt to the Murray.

The impacts on surface and ground water resources would be immense, native vegetation would be lost and Victoria’s food bowl would become a dirty open cut mine.

Local media and the community have been quiet on the issue to date, although the Goulburn Valley Environment Group has been involved and is concerned.

The VNPA too is concerned that this proposal will see further environmental damage in one of the most cleared landscapes in Victoria.

NatureWatch Caitlin Griffith NatureWatch Coordinator

T

he VNPA’s NatureWatch ‘Caught on Camera’ 2012 project trial in Wombat State Forest was an exciting success! Our amazing volunteers (and cameras) captured thousands of wonderful images of wildlife, and some important data.

On 23 March we launched a project report prepared by the VNPA and the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. You can see it on our website at reports.vnpa.org.au.

The project involved working with local groups and scientists to establish community-based fauna monitoring using motion-sensing cameras. It addressed the question: ‘What mammal species are there in sites in Foothills Forest and Forby Forest (i.e. forest with forbs, or herbaceous plants that are not grasses) in Wombat State Forest?’

The answers will contribute to the larger question ‘What is the impact of fire on mammals?’

Of course, just one trial year of monitoring could not answer the question fully. The plan is to do annual monitoring over 10 plus years.

Monitoring was carried out in the two forest types mentioned in sites classified as ‘Recently Burnt’, ‘Intermittently Burnt’ or ‘Long Unburnt’.

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An Echidna checks out a bait station in Wombat State Forest.

Ten species of native mammals were recorded: Echidna, Agile Antechinus, Koala, Common Wombat, Mountain and Common Brushtail possums, Common Ringtail Possum, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Black Wallaby and Bush Rat. There were also four exotic mammal species: Black Rat, Red Fox, Domestic Dog and Feral Goat.

After only one season of monitoring no apparent trends have emerged, but we now have a better understanding of the Wombat State Forest’s mammals.

Caught on Camera has also been very successful as a community-

building enterprise.

The VNPA was never short of volunteers, and the images displayed on our Facebook page have been a source of interest and delight to thousands of Victorians. In particular, the images inspired a number of artists.

All in all, the project has contributed significantly to the community’s awareness of, and enthusiasm for, the native animals of Wombat State Forest.

To get involved with NatureWatch email caitling@vnpa.org.au or visit naturewatch.vnpa.org.au

Victorian National Parks Association

Recreational fishing not off the hook – report Simon Branigan Marine & Coastal Project Officer

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new report commissioned by the VNPA shows that despite popular opinion, recreational fishing has an impact on the marine environment and is proving difficult to manage.

Some of Victoria’s most popular eating fish are now far more likely to be hooked by a recreational fisher than by a commercial operator, the State of Recreational Fishing in Victoria report reveals.

There is a great deal of uncertainty and lack of accurate information about the scale and extent of recreational fishing and its impacts on the environment.

This review pulls together all the available published scientific information on recreational fishing, both here and overseas.

Some of its key findings are that: • An estimated 88% of the total recreational catch for Victoria’s bays and inlets, and 47% of the state-wide retained recreational catch, is taken from Port Phillip Bay.

THE STATE OF RECREATIONAL FISHING IN VICTORIA R ecreational fishing can reduce fish stocks.

The recreational catch can be as high if not higher than the commercial catch.

The gutting of Fisheries Victoria could have long-term consequences on monitoring.

• Based on available information, recreational catch of nine different fin fish species in Victoria is equal to, or more than, the commercial catch, with snapper seven times and flathead four times higher than the commercial catch.

In addition, boat propellers and anchors can damage fish habitat; seabirds, dolphins and seals get tangled up in lost fishing line; and recreational fishing can remove important predator species from the marine food chain.

The report shows that to ensure the health of our fisheries we need regular broad-scale surveys of fishing activity, regular stock surveys for key species,

the staged introduction of new types of gear such as biodegradable lines and hooks, and better identification of fish habitats and risk assessments.

The VNPA is calling on the Victorian Government to consider the recommendations of the report and asking the Victorian Auditor-General to bring forward the proposed audit of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ management of recreational fishing in marine coastal waters.

DOWNLOAD To download the report go to recfish.vnpa.org.au

Freshwater fishing management canned T

he Victorian Auditor-General’s Office has delivered a scathing audit into the Department of Primary Industries (now the Department of Environment and Primary Industries) management of freshwater fishing.

The audit found that the longterm sustainable management of recreational freshwater fisheries continues to be a high-risk issue.

Management is biased towards recreational fishing demands and opportunities and not the protection of natural fishery habitats and productivity – which is the fundamental principle enshrined in the Fisheries Act 1995. www.vnpa.org.au

The Auditor-General also found that the DPI’s approach to reporting on its performance is not transparent enough to ensure it is meeting its legislative responsibilities to manage fisheries in a way that protects and conserves fishery habitats and ecosystems.

The audit also criticised department handling of public consultation – engagement with leading recreational fishing groups has dominated at the expense of ‘limited to no engagement’ with leading conservation groups (such as the VNPA).

There were examples of better management of single fish species

or individual rivers. For example, the Murray Cod has been hammered by overfishing, habitat loss and degradation, pressure from introduced species and loss of genetic diversity. But DPI was central to the development of a joint Murray Cod Fishery Management Action Plan, which resulted in improved integrated fisheries planning and management arrangements.

The challenge is for fisheries managers to apply this integrated system to the whole ecosystem, not just in isolated examples – and treat fish and their habitats, not just as a resource.

Nature’s Voice | No 16 | May 2013 – 5

Hundreds of trees felled before burns O

n 13 February this year, two firefighters working on the Harrietville fire front died when an Alpine Ash stag fell on their vehicle. It was a truly unfortunate accident, and a shattering one for their families, friends and workmates.

Fire fighting is a dangerous occupation and, understandably, DEPI and the CFA must try to establish a safe working environment for fire crews.

But in what seems to be an overreaction, hundreds of trees are now being cleared from areas where fuel reduction burns are about to take place.

Over 200 trees were cleared recently in preparation for a fuel reduction burn at Breakfast Creek, inland from Aireys Inlet in Great Otway National Park. Most of the trees had hollows (see picture), and many were very old indeed.

In a similar move, some 300 trees were cleared recently in Dandenong Ranges National Park.

Old trees with hollows are the architecture of the bush. An abundance of hollows, and a great range of hollow types, is required to provide

One of over 200 hollow trees felled before a fuel reduction burn in Great Otway National Park.

Photo: courtesy Joan Lindros

homes for the large variety of birds, possums, bats, invertebrates and other inhabitants of our natural areas.

But there appear to be no clear guidelines as to what constitutes a ‘dangerous’ tree that should be cleared or trimmed before crews enter the bush, and no clear guidelines as to what constitutes essential habitat.

Indeed, the way decisions are made on tree felling and/or lopping varies greatly across Victoria, and there is often little or no concession made to the ecological significance of old trees in the landscape.

Well-informed guidelines are

essential because, as renowned forest ecologist David Lindenmayer has pointed out, the “long-term dynamics of hollows in a forest stand are considerably longer than the careers of professional foresters and wildlife managers. Hence, individuals are unlikely to observe the long-term consequences of a given management action, or easily comprehend the full effects of their activities.”

Importantly, there are other ways to maintain safety in the bush, such as raking around hollow trees to avoid burning them.

– Phil Ingamells, Park Protection Project

Victoria set to log native forests indefinitely T he Victorian Government has proposed a Bill to change Victoria’s logging laws. This is the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Amendment Bill 2013.

If passed, it will lock into law the Victorian Government’s plan to log native forests for the indefinite future.

The Bill does this in three ways.

First, it inserts a new purpose into Victoria’s logging Act. The logging laws will no longer be just about environmentally sustainable logging practices, but also about making sure that logging takes place in Victorian native forests in the long term.

Second, it dramatically reduces the Victorian Government’s oversight of logging in the state.

Under current Victorian law, the government has responsibilities to

6 – Nature’s Voice | No 16 | April-May 2013

Nicholas Croggon Solicitor, Environment Defenders Office (Vic)

manage forests in the interests of the public and the environment, and to oversee logging carried out by VicForests, a state-owned enterprise that runs as a commercial business.

Under the Bill, the government is stepping back, leaving VicForests to mostly regulate itself. This is a problem: VicForests has the sole objective of logging and selling timber.

Third, the Bill prescribes no time limit on allocating areas for logging – so the government could give VicForests stands of native forest to log not just

in the next five years, but 20, 30 or 50 years into the future.

The government could have envisaged a brighter future for our native forests: one that allowed threatened species to flourish, provided extensive native forests for future generations, and proposed solutions to the conflicts involved in native forest logging (such as providing for a transition from native forest logging to plantation logging).

But this Bill commits Victoria to moving in the opposite direction.

TAKE ACTION To help defer the bill please sign the petition at change.org ‘Defer the Bill that would lock-in long-term native forest logging’.

Victorian National Parks Association

Easy-going ambles a walk in the park V NPA members who attended Geoff Durham’s ‘retirement’ celebrations late in 2011 at Albert Park Lake will not be surprised to see him re-emerging as a walk leader. As they say, “You can’t keep a keen bushwalker down”.

I attended one of Geoff’s recent ‘easy-going ambles’ at Yarra Park which was both informative and enjoyable, despite showers on the return from our stop for a coffee and delicious muffins.

The advantage of these ‘ambles’ is that they cater for not-so-fit walkers, or those whose mobility has been challenged by ageing (it happens to us all), accidents or ill-health.

Some walkers used poles; others, like me, have never been superfit fast walkers, but do have a great appreciation for our natural surroundings and a passion for walking.

You never know what wildlife you might see on an amble.

Moreover, if the 5-6 km of these ‘ambles’ is too much, there’s always the option of a half-way opt-out, as all the walks are accessible by public transport. They also feature interesting descriptions of the flora, fauna and history of the particular area.

Photo: Geoff Durham

I encourage more of our not-so-fast members to give these ‘ambles’ a go.

Coming ones are on Thursday 23 May in St. Kilda, and Saturday 22 June at Gardiners Creek, with further ambles on Sunday 14 July and Saturday 24 August.

– Joyce Opper

Who’s battling invasive species in Australia?

E very year across Australia tens of thousands of people give up their time to battle weeds, feral animals and other invasive threats to the environment, very often without payment.

The Invasive Species Council wants to build a picture of the work these people carry out, and the

organisations they work for, through a national survey.

The information collected will be used to create an Australian database of groups working on these issues, and will help us better share information on current invasive species threats.

Formed in 2002, the council was the first environment group in the world to

focus solely on invasive species.

If you are part of an organisation tackling invasive species in Australia, please take five minutes to fill in the survey.

TAKE THE SURVEY To take the survey visit www.invasives.org.au

WIN a Motorola Xoom tablet!

W

e want you to receive Nature’s Voice by email, rather than sending you a printed copy. This will help VNPA reduce printing and postage costs, and also save paper and other resources.

Simply send an email to vnpa@vnpa.org.au and in the subject line type ‘Receive Nature’s Voice by email for a chance to win a Motorola Xoom tablet’. Please include your full name. Or write your email address in the space below and post it to us in the enclosed post-paid envelope for a chance to win this brand new tablet!

Donated to the VNPA, it’s worth around $500, and with it you can browse the web, watch films, send and receive emails, and take photos, plus lots more.

First name: Surname: Email: www.vnpa.org.au

Nature’s Voice | No 16 | May 2013 – 7

OUT AND ABOUT Bushwalking and Activities Bushwalking Updates Mt Franklin Gorge (program p. 35) Leader: Doug Palmer.

Listed in program for Saturday 11 May. Now changed to Saturday 18 May.

Excursions 18 May (Sat) Coach trip to Macedon with walk at Gisborne, visit to an organic farm, then walks in Macedon’s forests. Cost: $40.

Volunteers will carry GPS units and systematically walk the park’s Mournpall Block, taking a GPS reading at every rabbit warren found. This will enable professional rabbit control teams to efficiently target warrens for destruction.

We leave Melbourne on Friday 7 June and will be based at the park’s Lake Mournpall camping area.

If interested phone the VNPA office on 03 9347 5188.

15 June (Sat) Excursion to Taradale with walks in and around the historic township.

Leaders: Sue Parkhill and Ruth Stirling.

Cost: $40.

Bookings and enquiries: Phone the VNPA office on 03 9347 5188.

For your diary Help control Hattah rabbits We need 12 volunteers over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend (8-10 June) to help with a rabbit control program in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.

21 July (Sun): Grow West tree planting.

17-18 August: Hindmarsh Landcare planting weekend.

Can you walk, talk and gawk? Mountain bikes on Prom tracks B A WAG, the VNPA’s Bushwalking and Activities Group, wants to introduce more people to our natural and cultural heritage.

Other VNPA members may also want to contribute ideas and help people discover new places. How can we better facilitate that?

On Thursday 4 April, eight walks leaders met for a discussion on the VNPA’s Walk, Talk & Gawk (WT&G) approach to bushwalking and discovering parks and other places.

WT&Gs usually involve a local expert and/or the knowledge of the leader to share interesting information with the group. Often the group forms a circle at the beginning of the walk. Everyone is welcomed and then introduces themselves and any particular interests and knowledge they can share.

If undelivered – return to Victorian National Parks Association Level 3, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton 3053

The group noted that Google makes it now much easier to research any area or topic that people are interested in.

Similarly, there are many useful phone apps available.

As well as agreeing on some WT&Gs for the July-December Activities Program, the group discussed how to give more of a ‘talk and gawk’ emphasis to other walks. They hope to produce introductory articles on specific WT&Gs for Nature’s Voice and Park Watch.

WT&Gs are easier if two or more people help plan and lead the activity.

Any VNPA members who might be interested in facilitating a WT&G with a walks leader are encouraged to contact Leaders Coordinator Russell Bowey to discuss their ideas. Email vnpabwag. convener@gmail.com or phone 0417 328 651.

– Julie Hunt

proposal to allow mountain bike riding on some of the tracks in Wilsons Promontory National Park is currently being considered.

One of the tracks proposed is the popular Lighthouse Track from Telegraph Saddle carpark, with branches to Oberon and Waterloo bays.

The Friends of the Prom (FOTP) consider mountain biking incompatible with the high pedestrian use of the Prom’s tracks. The danger of collisions with walkers is obvious, and staff supervision would strain resources.

The Friends say it’s unrealistic to believe that all mountain bikers would ride slowly and responsibly, and stick strictly to just a few designated tracks.

They have no objection to bicycles on the main road, or within Tidal River camping area.

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