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Dangerous precedent: the National Parks Act will be amended to allow firewood collection in two national parks.
Photo: Nick Roberts
Firewood decision an attack on our parks
T
he VNPA is deeply alarmed at the Baillieu Government’s recent decision to amend Victoria’s national parks legislation to allow firewood collection in national parks along the Murray River. A letter from Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith to the VNPA in September confirmed that the National Parks Act (1975) would be amended to allow firewood collection to continue in Barmah and Gunbower national parks. This decision is unprecedented in Victoria. No government has ever moved to weaken or undermine legislation that protects our national parks estate. It sets a grave precedent that could lead to further weakening of Victoria’s national parks legislation. Any moves to undermine the integrity of our parks should be of deep concern to all. Parks are special places created to protect nature, not to be used as firewood depots or cow paddocks. This ‘firewood’ is not just a resource
Nick Roberts Riverside Rescue Coordinator
for people, but a vital habitat for plants, mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates. Animals such as the Tree Goanna, and ground-dwelling birds like the Bush Stone-curlew, need fallen logs and debris for shelter and nesting. In the absence of any coherent environmental policy, the Coalition appears to be turning back the clock on environmental protection one decision at a time. We call on Premier Ted Baillieu to abandon the proposed changes to legislation and rule out any further amendments that would undermine protection of our national parks and reserves. The State Government has also recently abolished firewood collection permits and fees, and removed
regulations for firewood collection from state forests. There is no need to allow firewood to be taken from national parks. Farmers and other tree growers in northern Victoria have hundreds of tonnes of plantation-grown firewood available to sell. The State Government’s decision is not only anti-conservation, it is antifarm forestry and anti-competitive. The VNPA and other conservation groups worked for almost 20 years to get proper protection for our magnificent red gum forests, which were declared national parks in 2010. We are concerned as well that commitments to declare the Murray River parks, smaller reserves along the Murray outside the main national parks, will be in jeopardy if changes to legislation are proposed or carried out.
Take action
Contact Premier Ted Baillieu, Environment Minister Ryan Smith, and local state MPs asking them to protect national parks by ruling out any amendments to park legislation.
Bandicoots need homes too Matt Ruchel VNPA Executive Director
elbourne is growing. Urban sprawl is eating into rural and natural areas, impacting on some of Victoria’s most endangered habitats and species. A significant population of the Southern Brown Bandicoot, a nationally threatened species, still lives in south-eastern Melbourne in the cities of Casey and Cardinia. We need to ensure that planning for urban growth in these areas considers the survival of bandicoots as well as the needs of people. Scientists, community groups and local councils support the creation of ‘bandicoot biolinks’ or habitat corridors to ensure that the bandicoots here can survive and flourish. The first such link, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne (RBGC), will be a key test of state and federal government approaches to protecting threatened species in the face of development pressures. Community and environment groups are concerned that plans for these habitat corridors have slowed and become uncertain. The VNPA is asking that the land
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Editor: Michael Howes Design: John Sampson Printing: Tara Press Nature’s Voice is a quarterly newsletter. The deadline for our February 2012 edition is 16 January 2012. 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! If you would prefer to receive Nature’s Voice by email, please contact us on 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au c: 60 m: 0 y: 100 k: 27
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Photo: Michael Williams, IT’S A WILDLIFE
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The nationally threatened Southern Brown Bandicoot needs habitat and biolinks.
included in the growth area west and south-east of the RBGC be retained in the Green Wedge. We are also asking the State Government, Planning Minister and Environment Minister to: • Publicly support the establishment of bandicoot biolinks from the RBGC to the Green Wedges and beyond. • Establish plans to continue biolinks to the west (to The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve) and south of the RBGC. • Develop a region-wide network of bandicoot biolinks, and fund the
Western Port Biosphere Reserve to develop a Southern Brown Bandicoot Regional Recovery Group and Regional Recovery Plan. Please email, phone or write to the Premier, Environment Minister, and your local state MPS, asking them to support the above recommendations. For the full report visit our website: reports.vnpa.org.au.
Support our work
You can help by donating to our Urban Habitat appeal. Phone us on 9347 5188, email vnpa@vnpa.org.au or visit donate.vnpa.org.au
Serendip decision still pending
T
he people of Lara are seeking support to bring the issue of a proposed high-density housing development opposite Serendip Sanctuary to Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy’s attention, and obtain a decision. Recently, the minister said in relation to the land rezoning at Ventnor on Phillip Island that the Coalition Government was elected promising to listen to the views of Victorians. Lara residents were heartened by this comment, but concerned that their issue has been overlooked. They are also waiting to hear why the Department of Sustainability and
2 – Nature’s Voice | No 10 | October-November 2011
Environment chose to ignore the only independent report on the issue that it commissioned. This report points to a detrimental outcome for Serendip Sanctuary if the housing development proceeds. Serendip is internationally recognised for its free and captive breeding programs for endangered birds and other wildlife, and for its educational role. Please communicate your views about the future of Serendip Sanctuary to the planning minister, and ask others to do so too. See tlcgrouplara.com for more information. Victorian National Parks Association
Healthy riversides support healthy rivers.
Illustration: Rhyll Plant & Jess McGeachin
Report offers hope for riverside habitat O
ur new ‘Riverside Rescue’ report, launched on World Rivers Day (25 September), highlights Victoria’s degraded rivers and streams. It identifies policy solutions that would help the Baillieu Government repair rivers and riversides, and improve water quality across Victoria. The VNPA is calling on the State Government to end poor management of Victoria’s publiclyowned riparian (riverside) land to improve water quality and protect native species. Commissioned by the VNPA and compiled by scientists from Monash
Nick Roberts Riverside Rescue Coordinator
University, the report draws attention to the significant threats arising from cattle trampling valuable riverside habitats and fouling waterways. Cattle are currently allowed to graze on much of the 30,000km of Victoria’s publicly-owned land abutting inland waterways, under state government licences.
Victoria could be a world leader in river management, but instead we are encouraging poor management of rivers polluted by cattle and cow dung. The previous government had 10 years to fix this problem and failed. The Baillieu Government can finally solve a long-standing problem and offer farmers incentives to stop cattle wrecking river banks and polluting rivers, leaving a great future legacy.
Find out more
See the article in September Park Watch, and download the report from reports.vnpa.org.au
Flawed Murray-Darling plan sparks walkout T he VNPA has joined nine other environment groups in condemning the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s proposal to return only 2800GL of water to the environment, following a briefing by the MDBA on 4 October. VNPA Riverside Rescue Coordinator Nick Roberts said it was clear the MDBA was walking away from its obligation to produce a Basin Plan using the best available science. “Limiting environmental flows to
www.vnpa.org.au
just 2800GL would be an ecological disaster,” he said. “It would be a death sentence for River Red Gums along the Goulburn, Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers, and you could write off the entire SA floodplain.” Two decades of scientific research has shown that nothing less than 4000 GL will prevent the demise of red gum forests, migratory bird populations and the basin’s 30,000 wetlands. Environment Victoria’s Juliet le
Feuvre said it is now clear irrigators’ efforts to weaken the plan have been successful. “Unless the Federal Government intervenes and orders a fully independent peer review of the MDBA’s approach, we will be wasting $10 billion and a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the system on a sustainable footing,” she said. A draft plan is expected to be released in mid-November, followed by a five-month consultation period.
Nature’s Voice | No 10 | October-November 2011 – 3
Have a say on fire management A
consultation draft of the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s new Code of Fire Practice has been released, with public input open until 9 December 2011. The Bushfires Royal Commission recommended revising the code to include clear and measurable objectives, with protection of
Phil Ingamells Park Protection Project
human life as the highest priority. The Commission also asked for clear specifications for management burns in different fire management zones.
Well-informed public input is important, as the code will guide fire management for the next decade. Recommendations for useful issues to raise in submissions will appear on the VNPA’s website vnpa.org.au following the Fire and Biodiversity Symposium the VNPA and Royal Society of Victoria are holding on 24 and 25 October. For the draft visit dse.vic.gov.au
Alps snow no show by 2050
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ecent media comments on ‘Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments’, a report released by the federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, highlight predictions of greatly reduced snow in the alps by 2050. But the background document (which has not been officially released) has much more to say. It recommends $100 million to be invested in management of the Australian Alps National Parks over the next 15 years. Most of that, say the authors, should be dedicated to pest plant and animal management, especially feral horses, deer, willows, hawkweeds and broom.
Silver Daisies on Mount Bogong.
Photo: Adam Ingamells
Alps cattle grazing ‘results’ prove farcical T he alpine grazing ‘scientific trial’ results released by the Department of Sustainability and Environment add nothing to our knowledge of alpine grazing. The report (released at 5pm on Friday 14 October to avoid media scrutiny) says cattle damage is most evident in wet areas, and that cattle
prefer open grasslands to steep shrubby areas. Most remarkably (and inexplicably), the team doing the survey work only went into the trial areas after the cattle had been removed. Much of the ‘evidence’ cited in the report is anecdotal comments from cattlemen and Parks Victoria rangers.
And the consultants (URS Australia) chided the government for choosing such inaccessible sites to conduct the research. We are still waiting for the Victorian Government to let us know when they will refer their proposed new trial design for Commonwealth approval.
Win one of these great backpacks! It’s easy, just ‘Like’ our Facebook page and tell us in 25 words or less which Victorian national park you love the most and why. We have two fabulous, top quality day packs from Snowgum and two VNPA gift memberships to win. > Go to www.loveourparks.vnpa.org.au to find out how to enter. Hurry though, the competition ends Sunday 13 November. * Thank you to Snowgum for donating two Levanter Day Packs valued at $99.95 each – snowgum.com.au
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Victorian National Parks Association
Victoria’s marine emblem, the Weedy Sea-dragon, swims past.
Photo: Mark Norman
Great Victorian Fish Count – it’s time to take the plunge!
Y
es, it’s on again! The VNPA’S Reef Watch program is organising its seventh annual statewide census of Victoria’s reef fish populations. Reef Watch Coordinator Wendy Roberts is confident the event will build on the success of last year’s count, which attracted around 400 divers and snorkellers from across the state. Participants will be able to join registered dive operators, university diving clubs and Friends of Marine National Parks and Sanctuaries groups to learn how to identify and count 25 selected reef fish species. Top of the chart in 2011 will be the Eastern and Western Blue Gropers,
Marine study update The State Government announced on 12 October that VEAC will investigate just 11% of Victoria’s coastal waters rather than looking at our whole marine environment. This is a serious missed opportunity. For details see vnpa.org.au
recently listed by the Department of Primary Industries as protected species. Favourites with divers for their friendly and curious behaviour, population numbers and distribution in Victoria are poorly understood. It’s hoped the Fish Count will
reveal more sites where these fish can be found, as they have distinct home ranges and are quite territorial. Another question for divers is whether the Bluethroat Wrasse can keep its top position as the most widely distributed and abundant fish in the Count. It’s closely challenged by the Six-spine Leatherjacket as the most abundant and often seen fish. Happy fish counting!
Take the plunge
The Great Victorian Fish Count takes place December 3-18. For more info or to get involved email Wendy at info@reefwatchvic.asn.au or visit reefwatch.vnpa.org.au
App nets guilt-free seafood Y ou can now shop for ‘ocean friendly’ seafood with a new iPhone app allowing quick and easy decisions about which seafood is sustainable. The app, available through iTunes, is a fully mobile version of the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s printed and online consumer guide, covering more than 100 kinds of seafood. Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide says species such as Swordfish, Orange Roughy and shark are off the menu. Consumers should instead
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choose plentiful, sustainable options such as whiting and calamari. The UN has found that 85% of the world’s fish stocks are either overfished or fished to their limit. Some of the most popular eating fish in Australia are now classified as overfished, including Blue Warehou, Eastern Gemfish and Bigeye Tuna. If you haven’t got an iPhone you can consult the online Sustainable Seafood Guide at sustainableseafood. org.au or buy a printed copy from the VNPA for just $7.50.
Celebrity chef and sustainable seafood advocate Guy Grossi is helping to spread the word about sustainable seafood choices by promoting the new app.
Nature’s Voice | No 10 | October-November 2011 – 5
Annual General Meeting a big night
T
he VNPA’s 59th Annual General Meeting (11 October) attracted 75 members and visitors. Guest speaker Dr John Morgan of La Trobe University spoke about the challenges of both conserving Victoria’s native grasslands and interesting people in them. We can at least be sure that the stunning Volcano Dreaming panorama, which covered an entire wall at the meeting, will help promote the beauty and variety of our grasslands. Russell Bowey was elected
Bushwalking and Activities Group Convenor, with Robert Argent, Terese Dalman, Gayle Davey, Geoff Durham, Lisa Sulinski, Kyle Matheson and Tracey-Ann Hooley on the Committee. Outgoing Convenor Lisa Sulinski thanked Euan Moore, Irene Esquivel, the VNPA Valkyries and Alison Thomas for their contributions to BWAG. President Fred Gerardson, Vice President Russell Costello and Secretary Charles Street were all reelected to office, with Kyle Matheson as Treasurer. Council members are
Libby Smith, John Renowden, Ann Buik, Russell Bowey, Andrew Dodd and Maelor Himbury, with lawyer Anne Birrell seconded to Council. The President thanked retiring Councillors Russell Falvey (Treasurer since 2006), Linda Parlane and Lisa Sulinski for their valued contributions and made presentations. Matt Ruchel spoke of former Council member the late Mavis Rennie’s contributions. There is still one vacancy on the Council – please speak to Fred or Matt if you are interested.
Shipwreck Coast threatened C
orangamite Shire Council has proposed a radical amendment to rezone over 1000 hectares of private land adjoining Port Campbell and Great Otway national parks for possible tourism development. The amendment lists 11 sites from 50 to 300 ha on 25 km of the Great Ocean Road from Moonlight Head to Peterborough. This is contrary to State Government coastal strategies, and will also impact on the National Heritage-listed Great Ocean Road landscape. The land is currently zoned ‘Rural Conservation’. Some of the proposed rezoning is for ‘Special Use Zone’, which is usually for major state projects. No developments have actually been put forward; the rezoning is for speculative development. Any future developments would
Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast should stay wild and natural.
still need permits and would be assessed on their merits, but community members believe it is critical to get the strategy right first. Most of the areas proposed for rezoning are only 5-10 minutes from towns, which would be better suited for appropriately scaled and located development than rural land adjoining national parks and a spectacular coastline. Council has failed to recognise that it is the wild nature of this coastline that attracts tourism. Developments outside towns would kill the goose
Photo: Marion Manifold
that lays the golden egg. The amendment goes to a Planning Panel meeting 7-10 November.
Take action
Contact Corangamite Shire before 7 November opposing the amendment. Write to Mr Andrew Mason, CEO, Corangamite Shire Council, PO Box 84, Camperdown, 3260, or email andrew.mason@ corangamite.vic.gov.au
– Marion Manifold, Secretary of the Port Campbell Community Group Inc. Email mmanifold@ansonic.com.au
Call for Anglesea heathland protection A meeting at Anglesea on 7 October, attended by Geelong Environment Council and Angair members, and VNPA and community representatives, called on the State Government to limit Alcoa’s brown coal mining activities in the area and add the unmined part of Alcoa’s lease area to Great Otway NP.
Their unanimously supported resolutions state Alcoa must not be permitted to mine coal outside the boundary of the existing mine or destroy further areas of heathland, and that when the existing mine is exhausted, mining must be from a deeper coal seam.
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The meeting also demanded that any new lease should be of no more than ten years’ duration and only cover Alcoa’s existing footprint of 300 ha.
Take action
To find out more about this issue and what you can do to help, visit saveourheath.vnpa.org.au Victorian National Parks Association
Sylvia Creek logging on hold
Colourful grevilleas are one of Kinglake NP’s many wildflowers.
Photograph: Parks Victoria
Explore Victoria’s parks with new pocket guides T
here’s an exciting new feature on the VNPA website. We’re progressively putting updated versions of Geoff Durham’s ‘In Parks’ articles – regular items in our Park Watch journal since 2001 – on the site to encourage more people to visit and appreciate Victoria’s parks. These notes are meant to complement Parks Victoria’s Parknotes, not compete with them. You need Parknotes for park maps and details of visitor facilities, but our notes give you the in-depth background on natural and cultural heritage, planning, management and recreation that helps you understand and appreciate the parks. Our first four ‘pocket guides’, on
Point Cook, Warrandyte, Mount Samaria and Kinglake parks, are on the website now – just visit exploreourparks.vnpa.org.au. Other parks will follow at regular intervals. We are indebted to Geoff Durham, a member since 1974, for his dedication in researching and writing these articles, now totalling 42. Geoff, who instigated and coordinated the Walk, Talk & Gawk program, received the Parks Victoria Kookaburra Award in 1998 in recognition of his contribution to Victoria’s parks. In the 2002 Australia Day Honours he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to environmental conservation and the Scouting movement.
On 19 September the Supreme Court extended an injunction halting logging of the Sylvia Creek forest near Toolangi until February next year, after state logging agency VicForests agreed to the moratorium. Local conservation group MyEnvironment Inc is challenging the legality of VicForests’ logging operation on the grounds that the area is habitat for the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum. The full court hearing is scheduled to begin on 6 February 2012. “This is a great relief for everyone who has been fighting to protect this amazing island of forest,” said Sarah Rees of MyEnvironment. “VicForests’ agreement to the injunction suggests it recognised that we had a strong case, and there are serious questions about whether logging in this area is legal or not. “We just hope that VicForests and Australian Paper see sense and begin to shift out of native forest logging into plantations as quickly as possible.”
Take action
Sign the Ethical Paper Pledge – ethicalpaper.com.au
VEAC vacancies Expressions of interest are being sought for vacancies on the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council. See dse.vic.gov.au/onboard or phone 9637 8539.
✓ Yes! I want to support the VNPA with a tax deductible gift. I would like to make a regular financial contribution to provide VNPA with secure funding for critically important conservation work. I’d like to give: $50 per month $20 per month $............. a month Regular financial contributions are managed by credit card or direct debit only, with debit made on the 28th of each month. You will receive a tax receipt at the end of each financial year, and can stop or change your donations at any time. One-off Donation - I’d like to give a one-off tax-deductible donation of $................ PAYMENT METHOD
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Please post or fax with payment to VNPA, Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton 3053 OR you phone us on 03 9347 5188, fax 03 9347 5199.
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Juvenile Scalyfin. Photo: John Gaskell
OUT AND ABOUT Bushwalking and Activities Bushwalking Highlights and updates 19-20 Nov (w/e) Search & Rescue Training weekend for current and prospective BSAR members. GPS, rogaine and skills over two days. Grade: medium. Details: www.bsar.org, email vnpa@vnpa.org.au, phone 9347 5188.
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20 Nov (Sun) VNPA Caring for Nature Day picnic, Longridge Park Family day with walks, bird watching and more. Coach available from city to picnic site ($10 return). For details download the flyer, phone 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au
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Social night: VNPA marine issues – Wed 9 November Join Simon Branigan and Wendy Roberts for a presentation about Victoria’s spectacular marine environment. Simon will outline our marine campaign and guide us through the exploreunderwater.vnpa.org.au website. Wendy will talk about her community marine projects. Doors open 7pm at 60 Leicester Street, Carlton. Presentation starts 8pm. Optional BYO dinner. Wine, tea and coffee provided. Contact: 9347 5188 / vnpa@vnpa.org.au or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.
24 Nov (Thu) Social BBQ
Catch up at an informal evening BBQ in the inner city area. After dark we’ll have a slide show featuring photos of VNPA events. For more details phone 9347 5188, email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.
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27 Nov (Sun) WT&G Daylight Saving stroll, Williamstown Wetlands Wetlands on former rifle range, historic boat harbour and mangroves. Limit 15, 10km SW Melb. Grade: Easy, 6km. To book phone the office on 9347 5188,
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3 Dec (Sat): Cultures by the Yarra Explore inner-city Melbourne along the Yarra, peeling back the layers to earlier times. Limit 12. Grade: Easy, 4km. To book phone the office on 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.
Program changes 29 Oct-1 Nov (long weekend) Wilsons Prom northern circuit Walk postponed to 2012 due to flood damage and closure of overnight walks.
3 Dec (Sat) Werribee Gorge Circuit walk through the gorge and with great views. 55km W. Melb. Grade: medium, 10km. To book phone 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.
Excursions Saturday 12 November Coach trip to Malmesbury, Maldon and Castlemaine, goldfields and historic towns walks. Limit 57. Leader: Glenn King. Bookings phone 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.
Wyperfeld guide relaunched online
Take a Green Walk
Spring and early summer are great times to visit Wyperfeld National Park, but to enjoy it fully you need a comprehensive guide to its flora, fauna and human history. Geoff Durham’s outstanding guidebook, published in 2001 by the
Green Walks in the Park is a fun, active and healthy walk program for individuals, families and friends. Walks are free and suitable for all ages. For more information visit heartfoundation.org.au/greenwalks or phone 1300 36 27 87.
If undelivered – return to
Friends of Wyperfeld, has been out of print for several years. But the good news is that it’s now available free via our website! Go to books.vnpa.org.au to download it or read online in a flipbook format.
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