Nature's Voice edition 13 - July August 2012

Nature’s Voice

Victorian National Parks Association newsletter – Number 13

July-August 2012

Plans fail to protect urban growth habitats Mitchell Matt Ruchel VNPA Executive Director

Hume

G

reater Melbourne is home to a wide range of threatened species, but poorly planned urban growth will destroy their habitats.

The Growling Grass Frog is endangered in Victoria. It needs habitat corridors along creeks and waterways, such as Merri Creek, if it is to survive and flourish.

Studies by Melbourne University researcher Dr Geoff Heard show that the frog’s population has declined by 29 per cent in Melbourne’s north since 2001-02.

In draft plans released by the State Government last year, almost 90 per cent of frog habitat is to be removed in urban growth areas.

In its draft sub-regional species strategy for the Growling Grass Frog, the State Government specified 200-metre habitat corridors on either side of major waterways. A levy on developers to pay for management and the establishment of 400 artificial frog ponds were also proposed.

Under the Growth Area plan, the Growling Grass Frog conservation corridor along the Merri will be narrowed to only 50m wide and straddled by the town centre of Lockerbie, north of Craigieburn. This is likely to lead to the loss of the most important populations of this

GROWLING GRASS FROG > I nadequate habitat, all areas

Melton

Melbourne Wyndham

NATIVE GRASSLANDS > Inadequate protection

Inside

SEASONAL WETLANDS > I nadequate protection, all areas

Port Phillip Bay

Casey

Urbanised Area Urban Growth Zone Urban Growth Boundary Freeways

endangered species in the Merri catchment.

Recently the government announced the new urban growth areas. The document ‘Managing Continued page 2

3

Bandicoot homes put at risk

5

SOUTHERN BROWN BANDICOOT > Inadequate habitat corridors

Small mammals caught on camera

6

Rogue seastars attack the Prom

Cardinia

Wetlands overlooked in planning Yasmin Kelsall

D

uring planning for Melbourne’s expansion, the State Government has overlooked critically endangered vegetation.

The community ‘Seasonal Herbaceous (Freshwater) Wetlands of the Temperate Lowland Plains’ is associated with Melbourne’s seasonally inundated grasslands and grassy woodlands. Formerly widespread around Melbourne, it is now nationally listed as Critically Endangered.

This important community contains nationally threatened plants such as River-swamp Wallaby-grass and Swamp Everlasting, and is vital habitat for iconic species such as brolgas, frogs like the Growling Grass Frog, native fish such as the Dwarf Galaxias, and many others.

The Victorian Government has overlooked these wetlands during its ‘Melbourne Strategic Assessment’, the process required by the Government to approve the urban expansion.

The first stage of the assessment did take the vegetation community into account, identifying 500 ha of wetlands which may be impacted by the expansion. Unfortunately in subsequent stages this community was put in the too-hard basket.

Nature’s Voice Editor: Michael Howes Design: John Sampson Printing: Tara Press Nature’s Voice is a quarterly newsletter. The deadline for our OctoberNovember 2012 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 13 | June-July 2012

An example of the Seasonal Herbaceous Wetland community.

In February 2012 the wetland community was listed under the EPBC Act (1999) as Critically Endangered. In response, the State Government began a preliminary scoping study to inform developers and the community where the wetlands were.

Unfortunately this effort also soon returned to the too-hard basket, with the state deciding the wetlands were too hard to detect in at least one of the Growth Areas and, besides, there probably wasn’t much of this vegetation type anyway.

It’s true that wetlands can be tricky things to detect as they grow and shrink with the seasons. They need to be surveyed in late spring to be identified properly – inconvenient for a government looking for quick solutions.

But these wetlands must be ... from page 1 Melbourne’s Growth’ added an extra 4000ha to urban growth zones.

It also released detailed precinct plans for the west and north, but did not release final conservation or species strategies.

Since 2009, Melbourne’s Growth Area has been under a joint Commonwealth-State Strategic Assessment. The final plans were supposed to be informed by regional conservation strategies and sub-regional species strategies, including one for the Growling Grass Frog.

This hasn’t happened. The State Government appears to be trying to short-circuit the process by releasing

Photo: Damien Cook

properly surveyed to allow them to be adequately protected under the EPBC Act and incorporated into the State Government’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.

We have a choice. With adequate protection we may continue to see brolgas on the plains around Melbourne. Without adequate protection, these birds and many more species will be gone.

TAKE ACTION Help protect habitats and wildlife in Melbourne’s urban growth areas!

To email Premier Ted Baillieu and federal environment minister Tony Burke calling for protection of our threatened species and habitats visit www.bandicootbackflip.vnpa.org.au. the final growth plans without the conservation strategies.

Yet species corridors, critical for wildlife to survive and flourish, are also good for people. They provide healthy open space for recreation, protect suburbs from floods and help with drainage.

For many years the Friends of Merri Creek have been calling for a conservation reserve network across the upper Merri catchment that would protect and sustain the area’s wildlife, native wildflower grasslands, ancient River Red Gums, wetlands and waterways corridors. These calls have been ignored.

TAKE ACTION

See contact details above.

Victorian National Parks Association

Baillieu backflips on bandicoot protection T

he Baillieu Government has backflipped on the protection of another Victorian species – the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot.

The government appears to want to scrap vital habitat corridors planned for the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot in Melbourne’s rapidly expanding south-east region.

Plans for these corridors were developed under national environmental laws.

But it seems the Baillieu Government won’t let a threatened species stand in the way of new houses.

Once more, the environmental component of growth planning in Victoria is a shambles. The Southern Brown Bandicoot case puts the credibility of Victoria’s entire planning and environmental approval process in doubt.

The VNPA calls on the Baillieu Government to: • Ensure there are adequate conservation reserves, corridors and buffer zones for the Southern Brown Bandicoot and other threatened species.

• Immediately release all the threatened species strategies it has developed as part of the strategic assessment of Melbourne, before approval of any further urban development areas.

We also call on federal environment minister Tony Burke to ensure that: • The Victorian Government undertakes community consultation and obtains independent scientific input on threatened species plans for Melbourne’s urban growth areas. It should also provide detailed implementation plans, and plans for grassland and woodland reserves, and frog and

bandicoot habitat corridors.

• The Federal Government immediately appoints an independent environmental monitor to assess State Government plans and implementation procedures.

Write to Premier Ted Baillieu and federal minister Tony Burke detailing these concerns. For the Premier, write to 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne 3002, phone 9651 5000 or email ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au For more information on how Melbourne’s urban sprawl is impacting on some of the most endangered habitats and species in Victoria, see the VNPA report ‘Melbourne’s Urban Expansion – Threatened Species on Our Doorstep’ on our website.

STAY IN TOUCH Keep up with conservation issues in Victoria – follow us on Facebook.

Time to give two hoots for East Gippsland owls L

ast month the VNPA wrote to the Department of Sustainability and Environment objecting to proposed changes to the East Gippsland Forest Management Plan Zoning Scheme.

We said that Flora and Fauna Guarantee-listed Owl Management Areas should not be changed to a General Management Zone category, intended for logging.

The DSE is proposing this on the basis that short-term objectives of the relevant Flora and Fauna Guarantee action statements (i.e. stopping population declines) have been met.

But the long-term objective of the action statements is to return these species to a non-threatened status. In view of that, the proposed logging of known owl sites is contrary to these action statements, which aim to www.vnpa.org.au

halt further population declines and increase populations.

The proposed changes would result in a net loss of habitat for Sooty and Powerful owls, because no measures are proposed to offset the loss of this critical habitat.

In our view also, the Flora and Fauna Guarantee action statements are out of date and need review.

Population/ breeding pair estimates in the action statements are the minimum required to achieve the short-term objective based on available knowledge at the time, not a maximum as appears in the Owl Management Area review.

There should be no changes to the Owl Management Zones until reviews of all three action statements have been completed.

Sooty Owl. Photo courtesy John Barkla, BirdLife Australia Nature’s Voice | No 13 | June-July 2012 – 3

NSW parks all over bar the shooting R

ecreational shooters have been given the green light to shoot feral animals in 95 per cent of NSW’s 800plus national parks and reserves after the State Government helped push a Shooters and Fishers Party bill through state parliament.

Hunters will be allowed into the parks and reserves to shoot feral deer, pigs, goats and cats.

Advice to the previous Labor state government was that recreational hunting in national parks was likely to jeopardise public safety and drive out other users.

The union that represents park rangers announced it had directed its members ‘not to assist with any activity involved with establishing recreational hunting in national parks in NSW’.

It said the action was due to the union’s belief that the government’s decision ‘poses a serious risk to the safety of park rangers, visitors, wildlife and the environment’.

The NSW National Parks Association and other groups aren’t giving up the fight against recreational hunting.

The association’s Kevin Evans said that the time and cost involved in supervising the shooting

TAKE ACTION Visit www.npansw.org.au to find out how you can support the campaign to keep recreational hunting out of NSW’s national parks. would outweigh any benefits.

The Invasive Species Council has shown that recreational hunting is ineffective at feral animal control.

The NPA has organised several protests, and Mr Evans says they hope to get the legislation overturned.

Hunting in Victoria’s parks Recreational hunting, mainly for Sambar Deer, is allowed in sections of ten parks in Victoria, including four national parks. But this is not assisting feral animal control as deer populations continue to rise.

There are also pest control programs using accredited volunteer hunters in a few parks in Victoria.

Victoria hands World Parks Congress to NSW T he Baillieu Government has refused to host the 2014 World Parks Congress in Melbourne, despite the International Union for the Conservation of Nature agreeing on the city as its preferred venue.

Held every decade, the Congress last took place in Durban, South Africa, in 2003. Delegates from around the world examine the best ways to run nature reserves and protect biodiversity.

Claiming it “did not represent good value for taxpayers’ money”, the Victorian Government effectively handed the NSW Coalition Government the opportunity to

4 – Nature’s Voice | No 13 | June-July 2012

offer to host the Congress. NSW environment minister Robyn Parker said it would bring more than 3000 visitors to the state and generate $25 million for its economy.

Victorian opposition environment spokeswoman Lisa Neville said Victoria had world-class national and marine parks and that the Congress was an opportunity to showcase them to tourists.

Federal environment minister Tony Burke accused the Victorian Government of declining the Congress in order to avoid international scrutiny of its conservation record.

All of these programs: • Operate as strategic programs, with specific objectives aligned with the park management plan.

• Are under the control of Parks Victoria staff.

• Involve considerable staff time in planning and supervision, and therefore require considerable budget allocations.

• Operate with a very small number of volunteers, less than 1% of licensed game hunters in Victoria.

• Achieve varying levels of success.

MORE INFORMATION Download the VNPA fact sheet on hunting from our website.

Horse play V

ictoria’s rapidly growing populations of feral horses have been added to the list of threatening processes under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. But in a bizarre twist, Parks Victoria staff have been told to call them ‘wild horses’, a move that glosses over their pest status.

Feral horses do considerable damage to wetlands in the Alpine National Park, but Parks Victoria concentrates removal efforts on the small Bogong High Plains population, allowing the much larger population near the NSW border to grow out of control.

Feral goats and Noisy Miners have joined feral horses on the FFG mostwanted list, but Parks Victoria hasn’t opted for a name change for them.

Victorian National Parks Association

Mineral prospecting threatens Victoria’s national parks I

n June, state minister for gaming, consumer affairs, energy and resources Michael O’Brien announced that prospecting may be allowed in more of Victoria’s parks, following a review.

The VNPA opposes any further extension of prospecting in national parks and other areas of conservation significance.

We understand that the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria is seeking access for prospecting in the Alpine, Baw Baw, Errinundra, Lake Eildon and Lerderderg parks, plus several others, in addition to the 12 parks where prospecting under a miner’s right or tourist fossicking authority is already permitted.

We want to know why Victoria’s

Phil Ingamells Park Protection Project

energy and mining minister seems to be making decisions about the environmental management of our national parks.

Widespread prospecting comes at a cost to our natural environment.

Prospectors dig up areas wherever their metal detectors register metal or minerals, and this can cause erosion and affect threatened plant and animal species.

Many areas are already open for fossicking, including parks in the goldfields region, and the

damaging effects this is having on the environment can be clearly seen.

Opening up other parks and reserves to mineral prospecting will add additional stress to these already stressed areas.

Under Victoria’s National Parks Act, and international conventions, national parks exist primarily to protect nature against exploitation.

The Baillieu Government is making decisions in an environmental policy vacuum, gradually unpicking the Victorian community’s carefully established nature protection measures.

We need better protection and more resources to manage parks. What our native plants and animals need is help, not more threats.

NatureWatch Caitlin Griffith NatureWatch Coordinator

I

t’s been an exciting few months for our NatureWatch volunteers, who have been setting up motion-sensing cameras in Wombat State Forest as part of our ‘Caught on Camera’ project, and capturing some wonderful images!

After this trial, we hope to be back in the Wombat to build up a long-term picture of how mammals respond to fire. We’re working closely with Wombat Forestcare and the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research.

We’ve filmed Swamp Wallabies, Eastern Grey Kangaroos and joeys, wombats, Brush-tailed and Ringtail possums, echidnas, koalas and several species of small native marsupials, possibly including antechinuses, bush rats and dunnarts.

Many thanks to the volunteers who’ve participated in the project, specially to team leaders Luke Johnson, Christine Connelly, Evelyn

www.vnpa.org.au

Small native mammals check out a bait station in Wombat State Forest.

Chia, Ned Surla and Bryant Gagliardi, and also to Beatrix Spencer, who is downloading and cataloguing all the images. Thanks also to Wombat Forestcare, particularly Gayle Osborne for such great local guidance!

We are now getting the project started in Bunyip State Park with Friends of Bunyip and our great scientists from the ARI. This project has been funded by

the Australian Government Caring for Our Country Community Action Grants, the ANZ Staff Foundation and The R.E. Ross Trust.

Visit facebook.vnpa.org.au to see more photos of these amazing animals.

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

Nature’s Voice | No 13 | June-July 2012 – 5

Voracious seastars at the Prom F

ollowing the discovery of invasive Northern Pacific Seastars in Tidal River at Wilsons Promontory, Parks Victoria staff and volunteers surveyed the river in May and removed 165 of the seastars.

These seastars, voracious predators that feed on many native marine animals, are prolific breeders – females produce up to 25 million microscopic eggs per season. These can survive in water for up to 120 days.

The seastars can rapidly reach plague proportions. The population in Port Phillip Bay is now estimated to be over 100 million.

On 3 and 4 June, 160mm of rain fell over the Tidal River catchment area.

This decreased the river’s salinity and resulted in the death of many Northern Pacific Seastars.

Underwater video searches and scuba or snorkelling inspections have been conducted in most of the bays on the Prom’s east coast.

The good news is that no Northern Pacific Seastars were found, suggesting that they are likely to be restricted to Tidal River.

Parks Victoria has now lifted restrictions on fishing and swimming in Tidal River, but asks visitors to ensure that shoes, clothing, towels and any equipment are clean and dry

60

VNPA’s

T

A diver finds a Northern Pacific Seastar in Tidal River.

Sea Science Seminars – going down under

O

ur popular Sea Science Seminars will continue at the Melbourne Aquarium throughout winter.

• On Tuesday, July 31 we find out just how good volunteers are at detecting and removing Northern Pacific Seastars in Victorian waters.

Join Kimberley Millers from the University of Melbourne for this exciting event.

• In August we celebrate the tenth anniversary of Victoria’s marine

before entering the river.

This is particularly important for clothing and equipment previously used in seastar-infested waters, including Port Phillip Bay, as it will kill any attached eggs or larvae.

The use of all water vessels,

national parks with a report by Parks Victoria’s Dr Steffan Howe.

Steffan will talk about their report cards with initial results of monitoring at Yaringa and Wilsons Promontory marine national parks.

• In September marine botanist Dr Jacqui Pocklington draws back the curtains on our wonderful seaweeds, equipping you with the tools you need to properly identify them. > To book your spot register online at seascience.vnpa.org.au

including canoes and kayaks, in the Tidal River watercourse is strictly prohibited until further notice.

If you do spot a Northern Pacific Seastar at the Prom, please record its location and inform the Tidal River Visitor Centre.

th

ANNIVERSARY DINNER

his year we celebrate 60 remarkable years, and you are warmly invited to participate in our celebrations, starting with our anniversary dinner.

Where: T he Melbourne Town Hall (location of the VNPA’s inaugural meeting).

When: 9 August 2012.

6 – Nature’s Voice | No 13 | June-July 2012 Time: 6.30-11pm.

Photo: Parks Victoria

Diamond Firetail. Photo: Chris Tzaros

To help secure the VNPA’s future, this dinner is also a fundraising event.

Tickets: $150 per person. Each table seats ten.

3 course dinner, drinks, wine tasting, entertainment and more.

> Book your spot by registering online at www.vnpa.org.au or contact Lara Hookham Victorian National Parks Association on 9341 6501, larah@vnpa.org.au.

VEAC marine inquiry offers opportunity for change T

he Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s initial public consultation phase for its marine investigation has now ended.

The VNPA has put in a substantial submission, which can be found on our website.

VEAC’s discussion paper, to be released later in the year, will set the future direction of the investigation.

Although its terms of reference are very narrow, covering only existing marine protected areas (MPAs), there is a golden opportunity for VEAC to make recommendations about establishing a new marine planning framework for Victoria, and drawing up legislation based on the need to conserve marine ecosystems.

In any case, the whole marine environment needs to be considered in relation to challenges and threats such as climate-driven changes,

Simon Branigan Marine & Coastal Project Officer

pollution, invasive species and coastal development.

Some of the VNPA’s other key recommendations include the need for VEAC to complete an up-to-date literature review on the biodiversity benefits of MPAs, taking into account that in Victoria they have only been established for 10 years.

It can take 20-30 years for marine areas to recover. Yet there are already emerging benefits, Wilsons Promontory MNP and Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary being standouts.

The next opportunities for public comment will be later this year on the discussion paper, and in mid-2013,

when VEAC releases its draft proposals paper.

Bastion Point in limbo It’s been several months since the East Gippsland Shire Council meeting that decided on a lower-impact boat facility at Bastion Point (Mallacoota), but there has been no firm news as yet on future developments.

The Save Bastion Point group has written to Peter Ryan, Victoria’s minister for regional development, seeking clarification, as they understood that broad community support would be sought, as per the council motion, before design details were finalised.

Visit savebastionpoint.org for a summary of this campaign. Contact VNPA marine and coastal campaigner Simon Branigan for more information – email simonb@vnpa.org.au.

Vale Peter Human

Save trees, save money, read us online!

The VNPA extends sincere sympathy to the family of Peter Human, who died on 6 July.

A long-term VNPA supporter and active volunteer, Peter was the father of former VNPA Director and Bush Heritage Australia CEO Doug Humann.

F

or several years we have given our members and supporters the choice of getting Nature’s Voice online or as a printed newsletter.

To save trees and use our resources wisely, we are now phasing out the printed version of Nature’s Voice.

This is the second-last issue to be available in print. The next issue (October-November) will be the last.

If you get the printed version, please contact us on vnpa@vnpa.org.au or 9347 5188 with your email address to ensure you receive future issues.

✓ 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

PERSONAL DETAILS

Cheque/Money order payable to ‘Victorian National Parks Association’ is enclosed.

Credit card Visa Mastercard

Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss/Other ............................

Surname .................................................

Card no Expiry Date:

First name ...............................................

Address ..................................................

/

Cardholder name .................................................................

Signature .........................................................................................................................................

Direct Debit from my Account Financial institution ...........................................................................................................................

................................................................

Suburb/Town ..........................................

Postcode ................................................

Tel (BH) ...................................................

Email ......................................................

Bank/Branch (BSB#) ........................... Account number ................................................................

Account holder(s) name ........................................................ Signature .......................................... Nature’s Donations $2| are tax-deductible. www.vnpa.org.au Voice | over No 13 June-July 2012 – 7 7/12 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.

OUT AND ABOUT Bushwalking and Activities Bushwalking Highlights and updates 3 August (Fri) Pentland Hills Landcare tree planting Complementing the 15 July Grow West planting. To register phone 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.

3-5 August: base camp snowshoe trip to Mt Stirling Base camp at Sheepyard Flat in Howqua River valley. Places still available, phone 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.

Call for U35 leaders Interested in leading an U35 walk or

organising a social event like a dinner or movie? Our Bushwalking and Activities Group urgently needs more U35 leaders. Please contact VNPAU35@ gmail.com for more information!

15 September (Sat)

Cancelled walk

Bookings & inquiries: phone 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au.

11-12 August: Snow camping, Alpine National Park.

Lake Nagambie, then visit historic gold site of Whroo in the Rushworth forest.

Also Tahbilk winery and wetlands.

Leaders: Larysa Kucan and Julie Nunn.

For your diary Excursions 18 August (Sat) Coach to Eildon with a stop at Yarra Glen and visit to Mt Pinniger. Leaders: Ulla Jones and Helen Dooley. Cost: $40.

Hindmarsh Project planting weekend, 18-19 August Bookings for this weekend have now closed, but you can go on a waiting list. See www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/ environment or phone Katy Marriott on 5391 4444 or 0419 001 916.

John Landy joins fight against Mt St Leonard logging update weeds, pests and pathogens L W

hile the world’s eyes turn to London for the 2012 Olympics, former Australian athletics champion John Landy, the second man in the world to break the four-minute mile, will be channelling the focus and determination that made him a world-beater into taking on the country’s growing weed and feral animal problems.

Mr Landy has become patron of the Invasive Species Council – the only national environmental group focusing on the laws and policies needed to tackle Australia’s growing pest problems.

Mr Landy has played important

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

roles in agriculture and the environment over many years.

He was the first Technical Officer employed by the National Parks Authority (forerunner of Parks Victoria) and a foundation member of the Victorian Land Conservation Council.

He served as Governor of Victoria from January 2001 to April 2006.

“Twenty or so new exotic plants establish in Australia each year, and compounding this are large numbers of ‘sleeper’ weeds set to become problem weeds and take over native habitats in Victoria and elsewhere,” he said.

ogging at Leo’s Foot at Mt St Leonard near Healesville is well under way.

Community campaigner Bernie Mace says this destructive logging must be stopped while the forest’s environmental, tourism, climate and biodiversity values are reassessed.

Local conservationists are asking supporters to contact politicians and the media to demand logging cease immediately.

More info: myenvironment.org.au

Congratulations!

Hearty congratulations to the VNPA’s Amy Dyer and husband Barney on the birth of baby Thomas on 10 July.

surface mail

POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA

Nature’s Voice July-August 2012

Print Post Approved PP381827/00024

Nature’s Voice is printed on recycled paper

Save paper and postage costs! To receive this newsletter electronically, email vnpa@vnpa.org.au or phone 9347 5188.