Nature's Voice No 17 August 2013

Nature’s Voice

Victorian National Parks Association newsletter

Number 17 | August 2013

It’s time to protect the places we love Matt Ruchel VNPA Executive Director

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n the past month, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott have both flagged changes to the Federal Government’s role in environmental assessments.

Seemingly both leaders are under pressure from the business lobby to wind back or ‘streamline’ federal environmental powers.

These powers are key to protecting nationally significant natural areas. The Federal Government played a vital role in protecting the Franklin River and the Great Barrier Reef, and in keeping cattle out of Victoria’s Alpine National Park.

On 26 June this year the Coalition released a plan to essentially hand back environmental approvals to state governments.

The policy states: “A Coalition government will establish a one-stopshop for environmental approvals and dramatically simplify the approvals process across federal, state and local jurisdictions, while maintaining environmental standards …

“State and territory governments will be given the opportunity to act as a one-stop-shop. This would include … creation of a single approvals process for environmental assessment and approvals under the EPBC Act via the

Inside

TAKE ACTION Contact Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott: Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au, Tony.Abbott.MP@aph.gov.au Write to Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600.

Phone (02) 6277 7700 (Kevin Rudd) and (02) 6277 4022 (Tony Abbott). state system, as part of long-term agreements with each state and territory.”

In an address to the Canberra Press Club on 11 July the Prime Minister identified a new approach to environmental approvals as part of the “new national competitiveness agenda for Australia”.

He said: “Surely it lies within our wit and wisdom to begin by integrating the

Is this the future for our parks?

P3 Labor stands up for national parks

assessment procedures and reports at present separately mandated by the Commonwealth and the states. Surely we should aim at having one single integrated assessment system.”

The Rudd Government’s new environment minister Mark Butler clarified that statement a few days later. “We are very committed to an approvals process that leaves the final Continued page 2

Thanks for your support Tony

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he VNPA thanks former federal environment minister Tony Burke for his efforts to protect Australia’s natural environments over the past three years, and in particular for his key role in preventing the Victorian Government from reintroducing cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park.

We wish him all the best in his new portfolio.

We also welcome new environment minister Mark Butler and look forward to working with him in protecting Victoria’s, and Australia’s, irreplaceable natural heritage.

Former federal environment minister Tony Burke shares a joke with ecologist Libby Rumpff and Greg Moore from the National Trust during the town hall meeting on cattle grazing.

Final native vegetation reforms released

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he State Government has released a series of documents outlining its planned reforms to ‘permitted clearing regulations’.

The documents posted on the Department of Environment and Primary Industries website a few weeks ago are intended to be the final versions, with the possible exception of proposed amendments to the Victoria Planning Provisions.

The changes are expected to be made in September.

The VNPA has now read through the documents and we have prepared an issues paper that highlights some of our concerns with the reforms – as well as a couple of good points.

Nature’s Voice Editor: Michael Howes Design: John Sampson Nature’s Voice is a quarterly newsletter. The deadline for our October edition is 23 September.

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 17 | August 2013

Yasmin Kelsall VNPA volunteer & native vegetation consultant

This paper is available on our website. The State Government is not planning any further consultation on the reforms, but will provide briefings on request. Email Nativevegetation. review@dse.vic.gov.au

COMING SOON

that prints this type of information, please let me know by contacting me using the details below.

We hope to hold a workshop in coming months for people who will be working with the reforms directly.

We’ll discuss the reforms and workshop ideas for how we can work with them to ensure that the best possible environmental outcomes are achieved.

We’ll let you know about this as soon as possible.

MORE INFO

Some enterprising volunteers are helping us analyse submissions to the consultation paper, and we hope to provide a summary in coming weeks.

If you have a forum or publication

Visit nativeveg.vnpa.org.au to find out how you can take action on this issue.

Contact Yasmin: phone 9347 5188 or email yasmink@vnpa.org.au

... from page 1 decision-making in the hands of the federal environment minister,” he told The Australian newspaper.

The Rudd Government’s position is still a little unclear on the detail, but there may be opportunities for improving efficiency of decision making, if the business lobby can substantiate its case, which it has failed to do to date.

The Wentworth Group of concerned scientists has produced an interesting discussion paper, available on their website called ‘Changes to Commonwealth Powers to Protect

Australia’s Environment’.

State governments have an intrinsic conflict of interest. They, or their agencies, are some of the biggest developers in Australia and as such are proponents for ports (with the inevitable dredging), freeways, railway lines, desalination plants, logging, dams and other large-scale infrastructure.

And this is without even mentioning their attacks on national parks and other backward steps.

Who else can assess and restrain state government actions, if not the national government?

Victorian National Parks Association

Don’t want to see this sort of development in our parks? Visit handsoff.vnpa.org.au and help stop commercial developments in parks.

S ign the petition to help protect Victoria’s national parks. Your name will be listed with those who stand together to win the campaign.

P rotest: Order your own ‘Hands Off our Parks’ and ‘I Love National Parks’ stickers, plus a ‘Hands Off our Parks’ sign for your window or garden.

TAKE ACTION Contact your MP: Phone, visit or write to your local State MP – you can find them through the Victorian Parliament website.

D onate to VNPA: Every donation we receive helps protect Victoria’s parks and wildlife.

To take action, visit handsoff.vnpa.org.au

Is this what the future holds for our parks?

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he Napthine Government passed legislation in early July that will see Victoria’s national parks carved up and sold to the highest bidder, says Labor’s shadow minister for the environment Lisa Neville.

Labor opposed the National Parks Amendment (Leasing Powers and Other Matters) Bill 2013, which extends current 50-year leases in national parks to 99-year leases.

“This Bill overturns generations of successful management of our worldrenowned national parks,” Ms Neville said.

“Less than one per cent of national parks across the world have any form of private development and this government’s plan is out of step with www.vnpa.org.au

national and international standards.

“The Napthine Government has bowed to the pressure of their developer mates at the expense of the environment and small regional businesses and it is essentially hanging a ‘for sale’ sign out the front of Victoria’s national parks,” she said.

“These developments will be for exclusive use, allowing only a small number of Victorians – those who can afford it – to appreciate them, and locking out Victorian families.

“There is no business case in relation to public benefit that could be derived from private development in parks.”

Ms Neville said the State Government had failed to consider the impact such developments would have

on small tourist businesses in towns bordering national parks.

“There is minimal community consultation and only basic environmental oversight in relation to any future development of our pristine parks,” she said.

“The Napthine Government has ensured, through this legislation, that developers have an easy application process and that the decision-making solely rests with minister for the environment Ryan Smith.”

The legislation passed the Legislative Assembly and is expected to go through the Legislative Council in August.

The Coalition has the numbers in both houses, so it is likely the Bill will become law.

Nature’s Voice | No 17 | August 2013 – 3

Decision will scar Bastion Pt

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n July 2 the East Gippsland Shire Council awarded a contract for the construction of a breakwater and beach road development (‘Option 3b’) at Mallacoota’s Bastion Point.

An Environment Effects Statement Inquiry in 2008 recommended strongly against this development, saying it was of no societal benefit.

A more recent review by the current Victorian Government in 2012 found that a cheaper facility, with much less environmental impact, would perform as well or better than the council’s ‘Option 3b’.

The council saw fit to ignore the overwhelming public objections to this development – both the inquiry panel and review had 87% of submissions opposing Option 3b and supporting lower impact options.

Jenny Mason, Coordinator of the Save Bastion Point Campaign, said her group feels angry and disappointed, but not surprised.

“Council has consistently failed to listen to the community or to advice from experts,” she said.

Ziggy the White Elephant and over 100 Save Bastion Point campaigners with the support of VNPA and Surfrider Foundation Australia rally outside of Parliament.

“The breakwater is a white elephant that weakens and undermines coastal planning principles, sets a dangerous precedent and leaves no beach along Victoria’s beautiful coastline safe.

“This is a destructive, oversized development – so unnecessary when a less damaging and less costly alternative is possible.

“It is ratepayers that will ultimately have to bear the costs – a financial burden for years to come.

“For people in Mallacoota, it will be a permanent scar on the landscape and a constant reminder to the many who love this place of all that has been lost.

“Council’s decision is damaging not

just to the environment and the public purse: it is damaging to the health and wellbeing of our community.

“People will not just stand by and watch this devastation unfold.

Opposition and resistance will continue.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO Email or write a letter to the editor: The Age: letters@theage.com.au Bairnsdale Advertiser & Snowy River Mail: editorial@eastvicmedia. com.au Submit a letter to the Herald Sun heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/ letter-to-the-editor

Pro-cattle grazing members Job cuts at dominate alpine committee Parks Victoria P V

ictoria’s environment minister Ryan Smith has appointed a new Alpine Advisory Committee dominated by pro-cattle-grazing members, including MLC for Eastern Victoria and vocal cattlemen supporter Phil Davis MP. The committee’s task is to review the long-running Alpine National Park draft management plan, which has yet to be released for public comment.

Some commentators see this as the first step towards a bid to try once again to reintroduce cattle grazing to the park, particularly if there is a change of government federally.

A representative of the Prospectors and Miners Association is also included.

4 – Nature’s Voice | No 17 | August 2013

The environment minister seems to have mistakenly signed off on the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association Christmas card list, instead of appointing an independent advisory committee. No nature conservation groups are represented.

WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEE? Chair: Ewan Waller.

Members: Philip Davis, David Packham, Peter Attiwill, Russell Mullett, Ronald Moon, Walter Wright, Mervyn McGuire, Geoffrey Burrowes, Stephen Dingwall, Andrew Dwyer, Christopher Commins, Christa Treasure, Trudy Anderson and Peter Roper.

arks Victoria is looking to shed another 60 jobs after a round of redundancies last year failed to achieve its 120-job target.

Parks Victoria is in the process of cutting 10 per cent of its 1100-strong workforce and, while exempting senior and managerial positions, rangers and field service officers are now being offered redundancies.

A spokesman for the Community and Public Sector Union, Julian Keneally, said state government funding cuts have triggered the job losses, which could result in access to parks restricted or closed permanently.

He said there was a danger national parks could become overgrown or over-run by invasive pests and weeds.

Victorian National Parks Association

No place for prospecting in our national parks Phil Ingamells Park Protection Project

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lans by the Napthine Government to open up key Victorian parks for fossicking and prospecting may result in ‘appreciable ecological risk’ and impacts on waterways, the recent Victorian Environmental Assessment Council investigation shows.

This report makes it very clear that prospecting activities damage the natural values of national parks. It can be downloaded from the VEAC website.

Prospecting impacts on the environment and should be removed from those parks where it already takes place.

Under the flawed terms of reference given to VEAC by the State Government, the investigation could not recommend that there be no prospecting anywhere in the nine parks under review.

Council chairman and former state Liberal minister Phil Honeywood said in The Age (8 June) that it was clear prospecting can damage natural and cultural heritage values, and that it did not “sit well with the purpose of national and state parks”.

The VNPA welcomed VEAC’s recommendations that prospecting has no place in Errinundra, Mitchell River, Croajingolong, Lind, Yarra Ranges and Baw Baw national parks.

It is disappointing VEAC said prospecting could be extended into parts of the Alpine and Lake Eildon

This creek bed in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park has been manipulated by prospectors to send floodwaters against an eroding stream bed, giving easy access to material for gold panning and sluicing.

Photo: Phil Ingamells

national parks, and Lerderderg State Park.

But importantly, VEAC said that its recommended new prospecting zones in these parks should be subject to further scrutiny by the relevant water authorities, and also for their impacts on Aboriginal heritage sites.

It also recommended that prospecting regulations across the state be reformed and tightened to avoid environmental damage currently occurring.

The report said prospecting damages stream beds and banks and “undermines significant investment in projects improving the health of rivers” – the latter a particular concern of Melbourne Water. Prospecting and fossicking can also spread damaging

environmental diseases.

Prospectors already have access to around half of Victoria’s public land, yet the government made a political promise to prospectors that they would have increased access to our parks.

This was a mistake. No other state in Australia allows prospecting in its national parks, and for good reason.

We have called on the Napthine Government to reject recommendations that would allow prospecting in new areas in parks as an unnecessary additional assault on Victoria’s great park system.

The government has six months to respond to VEAC’s recommendations.

To see more images of the damage being caused to our parks visit dontdigupourparks.vnpa.org.au

CONSERVATION

OURNEYS

Step back in time with Don Garden’s short history of the VNPA, Conservation Journeys.

The first three chapters are now available free, online at ourhistory.vnpa.org.au www.vnpa.org.au

Nature’s Voice | No 17 | August 2013 – 5

Are we at risk of losing this beautiful bushland on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula?

Photo: Mark Fancett

Proposal tips scales on the Peninsula severely damage the park. It would be a health and safety hazard for local residents and jeopardise the economic viability of many local businesses.

The proposed tip will result in land clearing, disturbance of wildlife corridors, the discharge of toxic pollutants, and the disturbance of fauna due to noise from increased traffic and machinery. Other concerns are litter, feral animals and weed invasion, and a spread of diseases such as Cinnamon Fungus.

The proposed landfill will also greatly increase the risk of fire in an area already of very high fire risk.

It is below the groundwater table, necessitating permanent pumping of

water into the local creek and down to Port Phillip Bay. There is also a high risk of heavy metal contamination of land, groundwater and creeks.

The environment is under severe threat from this proposal, and so is the safety, health and wellbeing of local residents, school children and local businesses, many of which depend on tourism. Tourists will probably not visit the area to see a degraded environment and experience bad smells, noise and increased traffic.

Feral horses to be managed?

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Bunyip State Park caught on camera

Janet Stanley Peninsula Preservation Group

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hy would anyone think it is acceptable for a landfill to be located in a site surrounded by a state park and part of the UNESCO Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve?

Peninsula Waste Management seems to think this is okay. They want to use an old quarry in Arthurs Seat State Park, disused for 20 years, to dump commercial, industrial and domestic solid waste and asbestos.

There is extensive community opposition to the scheme. The proposed landfill will inevitably

arks Victoria’s strategy to deal with the 10,000 (and growing) hardhoofed feral horses trampling the Alpine National park is one step closer.

Parks has received a record number of submissions for the first stage of the program, and the public will have another chance to comment when a draft strategy is released.

The VNPA believes aerial shooting of horses is inevitable if horse numbers 6 – Nature’s Voice | No 17 | August 2013

are to be controlled. Even the RSPCA agrees that it is the most humane way to deal with the problem in the eastern alpine region, as long as the program is conducted under strict protocols by highly competent operators.

At present, apart from damaging the park, large numbers of horses are starving during periods of drought.

We congratulate Parks Victoria for tackling this issue at last.

MORE INFO To find out what you can do visit savearthursseat.com

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he VNPA has just published its second ‘Caught on Camera’ progress report, this time taking a look at community monitoring of native animals in the Bunyip State Park.

The project will contribute to scientific research into the impact of fire on mammals, and could run for another 10 years. You can download the report from our website.

Victorian National Parks Association

Government breaks promise on freshwater ecosystems Nick Roberts Riverside Rescue Coordinator

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he Victorian Government has broken a key election commitment to investigate the management of the state’s rivers, wetlands, estuaries and groundwater systems.

Victoria’s environment minister Ryan Smith has confirmed that the Coalition’s promise to have VEAC undertake this investigation has been dumped.

The VNPA and 20 leading environment, Landcare and farming groups released a joint statement calling on the State Government to honour its pre-election promise.

We are dismayed that this promise – one of only a few made on the environment by the Coalition before the 2010 election – is now being broken. Instead the government has wasted VEAC’s time in pandering to fossickers and prospectors.

This freshwater investigation was a clear election commitment – unlike opening our parks for development with 99-year leases, which was not mentioned before the election.

Great Egret in breeding plumate at Barmah Lake.

Photo: Shepparton News

Environment minister Ryan Smith has suggested the investigation will now be “…included in the scope of the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy”. But this is a departmental strategy, not an independent report to government

by Victoria’s expert environmental advisory body.

A recent draft of the waterway management strategy falls well short of community expectations for action to protect and restore rivers and wetlands.

Concerns include:

• Failure to develop a vision for Victoria’s rivers and wetlands that reflects community values.

• Lack of adequate targets, objectives and performance indicators for river and wetland restoration. For example, the target for fencing public riverside land is 210km per year – meaning it would take 85 years to complete the job.

• Failure to consider groundwater and its contribution to ecosystems such as wetlands and river base flows.

• The entire scope of the strategy is limited by budgetary constraints, not ecological objectives.

A full investigation of Victoria’s freshwater systems is well overdue – the last one was in 1991. VEAC are the experts and should be given the job.

We need new approaches and improved management to halt the decline in the health of our rivers and wetlands, which not only affects the environment but also agriculture, tourism, and recreation.

We call on Premier Denis Napthine to show leadership and deliver on the promise made to all Victorians in 2010.

Download the Joint Statement from our website

WIN a Motorola Xoom tablet!

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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 17 | August 2013 – 7

OUT AND ABOUT Bushwalking and Activities Bushwalking Now we’re in the midst of winter, have you thought of trying our snow activities? They range from beginners’ snowshoe shuffles to adventures for the experienced. See BWAG Program, pages 20-24 for more!

If any of these events tickle your fancy phone the VNPA office: 03 9347 5188.

August 10-11: Snow camping – Alpine NP (EC) Weekend ski camping trip with possible snowshoe options. Location TBA. Suitable for first-time snow campers.

Limit 10. 300km NE Melb.

Grade: medium, 30km.

August 10-11: Sheepyard Flat/Mt Stirling snowshoe (EC) Weekend base camp and snowshoe hike to summit of Mt Stirling. Limit 8.

250km NE Melb.

Grade: medium, 16km.

August 17-19: Bunk off Monday ski tour – Alpine NP (EC) Experienced skiers grab your snow camping gear and head for the hills this long weekend! Limit 8. 450km NE Melb.

Grade: med/exploratory, 30km.

August 24 (Sat): Snowshoe day walk at Mt Baw Baw (EC) An easy day walk in snow shoes along XC ski trails. Limit 8. 200km E Melb.

Grade: easy/medium, 10km.

Out on the snow in Victoria’s Pretty Valley. training day (part 1 of annual steep snow and ice training). You can get more information from www.bsar.org

VNPA office on 03 9347 5188.

September 1 (Sun): Steep snow and ice 2 – BSAR

August 16-18: Hindmarsh Landcare planting weekend

Bush Search and Rescue training day at Mt Buller (part 2 of training).

This event is nearly booked out, but you can still register and be placed on a waiting list. More info and registration at hindmarshlandcare.org.au

Excursions August 17 (Sat): Skipton Rail Trail Short walks at Haddon and Newton, visit Smythesdale and enjoy afternoon tea at Lake Wendouree.

September 21 (Sat): Steiglitz Historic Park

August 18 (Sun): Steep snow and ice 1 – BSAR

Discover this old gold-rush township in the Brisbane Ranges, including the historic cemetery.

Bush Search and Rescue dryland

Bookings and enquiries phone the

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

Photo: Mary Ferlin

For your diary

September 13-15: Friends Network Discovery Weekend The Victorian Environment Friends Network 15th Biennial Discovery Weekend will be held at Oasis Camp in Mt Evelyn and include excursions to the Kurth Kiln historical site and Birdsland Reserve. Places are limited, the cost is $140, including meals and accommodation. Contact VNPA on 03 9347 5188 for more information.

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