Nature’s Voice
Victorian National Parks Association newsletter
Number 20 | April-May 2014
Collision course set in Westernport Bay Quail Island Nature Conservation Reserve
Yaringa Marine National Park
Simon Branigan Marine & Coastal Project Officer
French Island Marine National Park
HASTINGS Long Island Point Jetty
V
ictoria’s Westernport Bay is shaping up as a litmus test for federal environment minister Greg Hunt after two new expert reports heightened fears for the bay’s internationally significant birdlife if the massive Hastings port expansion goes ahead. New research shows that a number of nationally threatened migratory bird species will be put at risk from oil spills, dredging, land clearing and vessel wash if the Port of Hastings expansion gets the green light. Despite Westernport Bay being Victoria’s water sports playground and a sanctuary for migratory birds, the Napthine Government plans to turn it into a container ship super highway, with shipping traffic projected to increase from around 100 ships a year to more than 3000. Under this scenario even a relatively small fuel oil spill would spread very quickly and be impossible to clean up before the damage is done. Planning and survey work is already underway, so it’s critical that Greg Hunt outlines a clear plan for protecting globally significant birdlife habitat from the risks of oil spills and port works under national conservation laws.
Inside
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Fight for bandicoot wildlife corridors
CRIB POINT
FRENCH ISLAND
French Island National Park 10km 5.4Nm
McHaffies Reef
Reef Island & Bass River Mouth Nature Conservation
PHILLIP ISLAND
Churchill Island Marine National Park Phillip Island Nature Park Shipping channel
Roosting sites
National Park Conservation Reserve / Nature Park
He needs to act sooner rather than later by ensuring that there is independent and rigorous federal government oversight of this statesponsored development. The Abbott Government has a policy of handing back development approval powers to state governments as part of its plan to create a “onestop shop” and streamline national
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Logging in national parks?
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Primary foraging habitat Marine National Park
environmental approvals. We need Greg Hunt, as the local member for Flinders and Australia’s federal environment minister, to remain true to his commitments before the last federal election when he said that if there is a conflict of interest in projects, such as Continued page 2
Environment minister gets thumbs down
Westernport on collision course... ... from page 1 with Westernport where the state government is the proponent, final approval powers will remain with the Commonwealth. Building on previously released oil spill modelling, the two new expert reports warn that: • A single, moderately-sized oil spill would have severe and long-lasting impacts on internationally significant populations of migratory shorebirds. • Typically penguins are the birds most affected by oil spills. Little Penguins are at high risk of being covered in oil and subsequent death from oil spills at McHaffies Reef, which is at the entrance to Westernport’s main shipping channel. • Birds such as cormorants and grebes foraging in the waters of Lower North Arm would be at high risk of being covered in oil from spills at either Long Island Point jetty or McHaffies Reef. It is likely that large numbers of these birds would die. Large numbers of swans and ducks would also be at high risk. • Hooded Plovers on the northern beaches of Phillip Island are also susceptible to oil spills. • An oil spill in Westernport Bay would damage large areas of seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh depending on tidal and weather conditions, and substantial areas of seagrass meadows would potentially need to be removed along the western
Nature’s Voice Editor: Michael Howes Design: John Sampson Nature’s Voice is a quarterly newsletter. The deadline for our July-August edition is 23 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 20 | April-May 2014
Birds that forage in intertidal areas such as the Curlew Sandpiper would be at high risk of ingesting contaminated food after a heavy fuel oil spill. Photo: Dean Ingwersen
shore of the Lower North Arm during major dredging operations for the port development. Westernport Bay contains 270km2 of intertidal mudflats and extensive seagrass meadows, mangroves and saltmarshes. It supports more than 10,000 migratory shorebirds and 10,000 waterfowl and is a nursery for a number of recreationally important fish species. The bay’s environment is already under huge pressure, with most
groups of aquatic birds declining significantly in the past 30-40 years and the extent of their habitats all reduced in size. The research was commissioned by the Victorian National Parks Association with support from local community group the Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council. It builds on a report released last year titled Quantitative assessment of exposure risks due to oil spills from shipping in Western Port Bay. Download the reports from reports.vnpa.org.au
Vale Dorothy Carlton D
orothy Enid Carlton (nee Neyland), a VNPA member with her late husband Norman since 1987, passed away peacefully on 12 March. She was aged 85. A Sunshine resident and generous supporter of the VNPA over many years, she was a much-appreciated office volunteer until about four years ago. As bush lovers, Dorothy and Norman owned and reforested a small block at East Trentham. They organised and led a number of BWAG walks in the Wombat Forest and goldfields
areas, and also took part in many of the Excursion Group’s extended trips to country Victoria and interstate. The mother of Anne, Alan, Pamela, Lois and Beverley, Dorothy was the grandmother of ten and greatgrandmother of two. In her family’s words, she is “Resting now in her beloved Wombat State Forest with dad.” We send our sincere sympathy to Dorothy’s family and thank those attending her funeral who made donations to the VNPA as a tribute, at the family’s suggestion. Victorian National Parks Association
Seventy people joined a Cranbourne community meeting to hear about the plight of our Southern Brown Bandicoots.
Photo: My Wild Life
It’s time to throw our bandicoots a lifeline W
e’ve been working hard to stop the State Government from abandoning two habitat corridors that would help protect nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoots near Cranbourne and Pakenham. Without the habitat corridors new developments planned around Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens will isolate these bandicoots from others near Koo Wee Rup Swamp and along the north-western shoreline of Westernport Bay. Wildlife corridors allow bandicoots to move between different populations in their search for new mating partners, increasing their numbers and keeping each group genetically healthy. The loss of the habitat corridors from Melbourne’s urban growth plans would strand the very healthy bandicoot population at Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens in a sea of housing. As part of the final approval process for the growth plans federal environment minister Greg Hunt is responsible for signing off on a sub-regional species strategy for the Southern Brown Bandicoot. His www.vnpa.org.au
Yasmin Kelsall VNPA Volunteer Habitat Campaigner
electorate of Flinders also happens to contain a large proportion of the remaining population of bandicoots. Unfortunately, he has exempted himself from his ministerial responsibilities to protect the nationally threatened species by delegating the decision to protect these vital habitat corridors to his Parliamentary Secretary, South Australian Senator Simon Birmingham. It’s a surprising move given that in the past Mr Hunt has said that at the end of his three years as environment minister he’d like to be judged by how much he has improved the ‘trajectory of as many species as possible’. He’s also said that the bandicoot strategy ‘will only be approved if it provides appropriate protection for populations of the bandicoot within the south eastern growth corridor’, and assured us that Senator Birmingham will seek assurance from the Victorian
Government that ‘connectivity’ will be included in its plans. However, the VNPA, along with other local groups, is increasingly concerned that the Victorian Government will spend $30 million on a plan that has few firm commitments and no measurable targets to protect the bandicoot. A community meeting held in Cranbourne on March 19 drew more than 70 people concerned about the plight of Southern Brown Bandicoots in Melbourne’s southeast. We have also handed Mr Hunt a petition signed by 1500 supporters asking him to reject the current strategy and insist on the inclusion of wildlife corridors. The Southern Brown Bandicoot is a harmless, affable creature that was once a common sight snuffling around backyards in Melbourne’s southeast. But it is being increasingly pushed out by poor urban planning. Please, write to Senator Simon Birmingham at senator.birmingham@ aph.gov.au, telling him we need these wildlife corridors to keep our bandicoots healthy! Nature’s Voice | No 20 | April-May 2014 – 3
All eyes on Hawkweed V
olunteers are helping eradicate one of Victoria’s worst weeds from the Alps. Hawkweed has already caused major environmental damage in North America, Japan and New Zealand. Three species have been discovered in the Falls Creek Alpine Resort and surrounding Alpine National Park. Over summer, 59 volunteers made a significant contribution to its eradication by seeking out Hawkweed across the vast and rugged Alpine landscape. Volunteers from VNPA, Weed Spotters, Landcare and bushwalking clubs, as well as individuals joined forces for the hunt. They searched 73 hectares over five weeks in December and January, discovering 15 Hawkweed infestations.
Volunteers learn how to spot and record Hawkweed among alpine vegetation.
“The search involved approximately a thousand hours of surveillance over rough terrain and often in challenging weather conditions,” said Keith Primrose, Operations Manager for the
PM’s forestry speech labelled out of touch
P
rime Minister Tony Abbott’s comments that Australia has enough national parks and ‘locked up forests’ has drawn the ire of national and international conservationists. Speaking to a timber industry dinner in March, the Prime Minister said: “We have quite enough national parks, we have quite enough locked up forests already. In fact, in an important respect, we have too much locked up forest.” The comments sparked a strongly worded defence of protected areas from more than 100 Australian members of the IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas. “As Australians, we are all custodians of one of the most remarkable places on earth. The majority of Australia’s plants and animals are not found anywhere else. Our land, seascapes and unique animals are valued by Australians, attract visitors from all over the world and are a defining part of who we are as people. The most effective protectors of these national assets are our World Heritage Areas, 4 – Nature’s Voice | No 20 | April-May 2014
national parks and other protected areas.” The National Parks Australia Council, of which the VNPA is a member, is extremely concerned that Mr Abbott so readily disregarded the value of national parks. NPAC president Michelle Prior said that even though national parks occupy less than 8% of Australia, they are a major drawcard for the nation’s $23 billion a year nature-based tourism industry and contribute significantly to our health and wellbeing. “The majority of Australian citizens value and appreciate national parks. Unfortunately, the prime minister is out of touch with contemporary opinions and knowledge. “National parks are not ‘locked up’ – they have the most generous form of land tenure available, being publicly available to all. “Recently they have been beleaguered by a barrage of external threats that include grazing, logging, development, hunting and prospecting.”
Hawkweed Eradication Program with Parks Victoria. The VNPA would like to thank everyone involved in this vitally important project.
Leadbeater’s plan slammed A
plan to save Victoria’s endangered Leadbeater’s Possum from extinction has been roundly criticised by environment groups as inadequate and led to a call for an Interim Conservation Order to protect the possum’s habitat from logging. Amelia Young from the Wilderness Society described recommendations announced by the Leadbeater’s Possum Advisory Group to protect the state’s faunal emblem as ‘woefully inadequate’. She said declaring an Interim Conservation Order would immediately protect important Leadbeater’s Possum habitat from destructive logging. “Allowing ongoing logging in and around Leadbeater’s habitat prevents trees from becoming old and forming hollows. Removing logging from Leadbeater’s Possum habitat by declaring an Interim Conservation Order is the sensible solution.” The Leadbeater’s Possum needs the tree hollows found in old-growth Mountain Ash forest at least 150 years old to survive. Victorian National Parks Association
Logging in national parks? Nick Roberts Riverside Rescue Coordinator
T
he twin Murray River national parks, Barmah in Victoria and Millewa in NSW, could become the latest political playthings of Coalition state and federal governments if federal environment minister Greg Hunt gives the thumbs up to a flawed logging trial being developed by the two states. This ‘ecological thinning’ trial is supposed to test the effect of thinning drought-stressed red gum stands to improve the condition of remaining trees. But if it’s allowed to proceed, industrial commercial forestry machinery will trample understorey bushland while cutting down more than 400 hectares of national park. It will also take place in national parks that are home to hundreds of threatened and near-threatened plants and animals, and hold significant value to Aboriginal Traditional Owners. What sticks in the throat most about this so-called trial is that both the Barmah and Millewa have been flooded for months each year for the past three years, relieving drought stress over much of their area.
A large number of birds, including spoonbills (pictured), egrets, cormorants and ibis flock to the Barmah-Millewa wetlands. Photo: Keith Ward / Parks Victoria–flickr
This fact makes a sham of the trials, especially when not far downstream in the Gunbower State Forest there are more than 10,000 hectares of drought-stressed red gum forest that haven’t had a real drink for more than a decade. And across from Gunbower in NSW, the Pericoota-Koondrook state forests contain more than 20,000 hectares of similarly drought-stressed forest. All these forests are still actively logged. In a Victorian election year, the
Napthine Government should think twice about making us one of the first states in Australia to reintroduce logging into a national park. In NSW, where nearly $100 million was spent buying back logging licences and compensating the forests sector, both state and federal governments should be wary of re-creating the ‘age of (logging) entitlement’. Logging in a national park, however much it’s disguised as science, is a shameful look for all governments involved.
Backflip after firewood blunder T
he announcement of a statewide investigation into illegal commercial firewood sales from Victorian forests is an embarrassing admission of policy failure by the Victorian Government, which three years ago scrapped the permit system for firewood collection from state forests and other public land. The permits, in place since 1958, had been the only mechanism we had to monitor and regulate firewood collection from public land. In scrapping them the government acted against advice from experts, conservation groups and its own department. www.vnpa.org.au
By conservative estimates Victorians burn more than half a million tonnes of firewood a year. In Victoria, firewood collection has a known negative impact on 19 species of native birds. In forests in central Victoria, bird numbers have been found to be nine times greater in areas containing fallen timber than in those where firewood is collected. It’s obvious that the government now needs to reinstate a stronger permit system for firewood collection to safeguard Victoria’s forests, and change policy and incentives to encourage the
use of firewood from the private farmforestry sector. Since scrapping permits under the guise of cutting red tape, the Napthine Government has twice amended the forest act in an attempt to prevent forests being stripped bare by unauthorised firewood collection. The Napthine Government has spent the past four years not listening on environmental policy. Now the Victorian taxpayer will have to foot the bill of an expensive firewood enforcement operation. – Nick Roberts Nature’s Voice | No 20 | April-May 2014 – 5
Young Grass-trees in one of the plots volunteers are using to monitor the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Photo: Sally White
Volunteers keep a watchful eye Sally White Friends of Point Addis
V
olunteers monitoring Grasstrees infected by Phytophthora cinnamomi in the Ironbark Basin of the Great Otway National Park have been pleasantly surprised by the latest results. Phytophthora cinnamomi attacks plant roots and destroys many native plant species. Its effects are particularly obvious on Grasstrees, making them a useful tool in measuring the spread of the disease. Monitoring Phytophthora in the Ironbark Basin since July 2012 has seen symptoms develop in just two Grass-trees, and only one has died. Given the relatively high rainfall over the monitoring period we expected greater infection – Phytophthora is a
water-borne mould and high rainfall usually encourages movement of the pathogen in soil. We grouped nine small monitoring plots into three types: ‘healthy’ (no infection), ‘marginal’ (some evidence of infection) and ‘dead’ (at least one dead plant). The number of plants within each plot varies considerably. In the three ‘healthy’ plots only one Grass-tree showed signs of infection. A similar increase in infection occurred in the ‘marginal’ plots, although the data are imprecise because the visual boundaries of one plot were difficult to determine. In the ‘dead’ plot one more plant had died, but there was an overall increase in healthy Grass-trees, although that was also difficult to quantify precisely because the plants were so small.
The monitoring program is supported by VNPA, Deakin University and the Friends of Point Addis Marine National Park. Our volunteer team is refining survey techniques to increase the reliability of results. Grass-tree monitoring in the Ironbark Basin is a great example of a local community group running its own monitoring project with support from the VNPA’s NatureWatch program. NatureWatch volunteers have been monitoring Phytophthora infection of Grass-trees in the Brisbane Ranges National Park since 2007 and recently began monitoring Phytophthora in Wilsons Promontory National Park. To get involved with this project contact our NatureWatch Coordinator Christine Connelly: email christinec@ vnpa.org.au or phone 9341 6510.
Geelong saltworks a bird lover’s paradise A
recent shorebird count near Geelong gives clear evidence that former Moolap saltworks and wetlands remain key environmental assets in the region and need ongoing protection. Carried out by the Geelong Field Naturalists Club since 1981, the count provides a consistent record of shorebirds and other species’ use of these sites, including many species protected by state, national and international laws. “This year 17 volunteers were 6 – Nature’s Voice | No 20 | April-May 2014
involved onsite in the count, covering all 490 hectares of the Moolap saltworks site and the Alcoa Point Henry wetlands,” said Dr John Newman, who coordinated the count. Fourteen shorebird species and 28 waterfowl species were recorded. More than 80 per cent of the shorebirds counted are migratory and protected under international treaties. But despite the obvious importance of the saltworks for so many migratory bird species, the club fears
its environmental values are being ignored. A large-scale development, still subject to state and federal environmental assessment, has been proposed for the site. Some of the birds recorded travel more than 10,000km from Geelong to the Arctic every year via China and Korea. Moolap and Point Henry are among critical places these birds can feed and rest, increasing energy stores prior to this extraordinary annual migration. Victorian National Parks Association
Environment minister gets big thumbs down 100% Matt Ruchel VNPA Executive Director
80%
A
60%
survey of 624 environmentally active Victorians has highlighted a deep dissatisfaction with the Napthine Government’s performance on environmental issues. More than 90 per cent said environmental issues would be very important when they line up to vote at the Victorian state election in November this year. Those surveyed described themselves as concerned citizens (70%), members of environment groups (36%), landholders (20%), members of landcare groups (10%) and government employees (10%). They are all involved with various conservation networks from around Victoria. The survey reveals a deep dissatisfaction with how Victoria’s coalition government has handled environmental issues since it was elected in 2010, with more than 97% of those surveyed rating the government’s performance as
How would you rate Victoria’s current Environment Minister Ryan Smith on his performance?
60.64% Best environment minister in Victoria’s history A good minister generally
40%
Not a very good minister
Worst environment minister in Victoria’s history
An average minister
28.16%
20%
10.24% 0
0%
0.96%
poor (66% rated the government performance as very poor, 31 % poor). Less than 1% rated environment minister Ryan Smith as a ‘good minister’, 10% rated him as average, 61% as not very good and 28% as the worst environment minister Victoria has ever had. Most people surveyed supported the work of environment groups (98%) and saw conservation issues
as very important (95%). More than 90% saw the role of national parks and conservation reserves as critically important. The results are no surprise to the VNPA. The Napthine Government has failed to listen to environment groups and local communities concerned about nature conservation, and in some cases has gone out of its way to undermine long-standing conservation initiatives.
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OUT AND ABOUT Bushwalking and Activities Bushwalking May 11 (Sun): Cycle the East Link Trail Catch the train to Ringwood then follow the East Link trail along the Dandenong creek to Carrum. We’ll return on the Frankston train line. Limit 12, 30km E Melb. Grade: medium, 40km. Contact: 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au May 14 (Wed): VNPA Social Night Travel two continents in one evening. Gayle Davey will tell us all about her recent safari trip to the Republic of Botswana and Namibia. Then we’re off to Lapland with Jeanette Clough, who recently trekked the Kungsleden (Kings Trail). Contact: 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au June 1 (Sun): Walk, Talk & Gawk Scotchman’s Creek Bring your camera and meet at Oakleigh Station, or come by car for a short local walk and join in the discussion and refreshments afterwards. Limit 12, 15km SE Melb. Grade: easy, 5km. Contact: 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au June 19 (Thu): Easy-going Amble – Burnley Gardens Explore the beautiful garden at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus and take a stroll to the littleknown canoe tree in Burnley Park. Limit 20. 10am start. Grade: easy, 5km. Contact: 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au
If undelivered – return to Victorian National Parks Association Level 3, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton 3053
Hattah Rabbit Survey This Queen’s Birthday long weekend (June 7-9) join VNPA volunteers on a trip to Hattah-Kulkyne National Park where we’ll survey rabbit warrens and possibly target weeds. The trip is a great opportunity to help control pest species in this iconic national park. It’s also the perfect time to visit, with endless blue skies and cooler daytime temperatures. You’ll need to be moderately fit for the off-track walking. To register please contact the office on 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au
Excursions May 17 (Sat): Coach to Toorongo Falls and Gippsland Heritage Park Join us for a visit to the Gippsland Heritage Park and a walk in the Toorongo Falls Scenic Reserve, surrounded by tall mountain forest and grassy river flats. We’ll also visit a farmers’ market. Limit 57, 120km E Melb. Grade: easy, 5km. Contact: 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au June 21 (Sat): Lake Nagambie and Shepparton After visiting Lake Nagambie we’ll explore Shepparton, including the art gallery and historical museum. Limit 57. 170km N Melb.
Grade: easy, 5km. Contact: 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au
For your diary July 20 (Sun): Grow West Tree Planting Grow West is designed to restore badly eroded landscapes. It’s a great day out. Details and how to register will appear in the June 2014 Park Watch. Aug 16-17 (w/e): Annual Hindmarsh Tree Planting Weekend (Rainbow) This is a major landscape-change restoration project enthusiastically supported by VNPA. Wonderful country hospitality makes this a great weekend away replanting native habitat. Details and how to register will appear in the June 2014 Park Watch.
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