Nature's Voice edition 7

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Victorian National Parks Association newsletter – Number 7

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Phil Ingamells Park Protection Project

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n its extraordinary haste to honour its election promise to bring cattle grazing back to Victoria’s Alpine National Park, the new Victorian Government has blundered into a flawed scientific ‘trial’.

Importantly, we don’t know who designed the so-called ‘scientific study’.

It was not referred to the normal scientific research arms of DSE or Parks Victoria, and Prof Mark Adams, originally cited by the government as guiding the research, has said he was only “…asked to do research alongside the trial”.

We have looked at the six ‘research sites’ to which cattle have been introduced, and at the government’s assessment of likely impacts on the park’s natural values.

We have discovered numerous flaws in the assessment, and reject the government’s assertion that there is no case for federal intervention.

• Four of the six sites contain species and/or communities already in DSE’s database as listed under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, but not all of this information was in the site information supplied to the public by DSE. • Many sites have EPBC-listed species and/or communities adjacent to them, and we are not convinced cattle can be kept within the continued page 2

Cattle grazing on Holmes Plain, shortly after the 1998 Caledonia fire in the Alpine NP.

TAKE ACTION!

Help stop the Baillieu Government from turning Victoria’s Alpine National Park into a cow paddock: Take Action at www.vnpa.org.au.

Sign the enclosed Stop Alpine Grazing petition and get friends to sign too, or sign online at www.petition.vnpa.org.au.

Donate to our appeal at www.alpineappeal.vnpa.org.au or by using the donation form on page 7.

The Victorian National Parks Association extends its sincere sympathy to all those in Victoria, NSW and Queensland affected by the recent floods.

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boundaries as defined.

• The desk-top study conducted by the government has information that is not always up to date. Some of the information (eg presence of peatbeds and wetlands) had been mapped from aerial photographs only.

• No on-site surveys to ascertain the presence of threatened species were conducted before the cattle were introduced. In other words, no baseline monitoring has been done for this ‘research’ program.

The inaccurate information offered by the Victorian Government was compiled with a high degree of secrecy.

And as well as not seeking clearance under the EPBC Act, the government appears to have avoided due diligence in many other ways.

• The government has not sought advice on ethical standards.

• It has not sought advice from the Gunnai-Kurnai Aboriginal community, which was granted native title over much of the park last year.

• It has not sought the advice of a range of government-appointed scientific and community advisory groups which would normally be consulted.

• And, most remarkably perhaps, the ‘research’ design, and the site locations, were developed without consulting DSE’s or Parks Victoria’s own research departments.

We believe it is very important that the Federal Government intervenes in this case. Inaction could set a precedent, leading to:

Bogong High Plains, recovering from cattle grazing.

Photo: Jenny Norvick

We urgently need your support!

We’ve already received close to 800 emails from supporters appalled at the decision to let cattle into the Alpine National Park, but need many, many more!

Send a message to federal environment minister Tony Burke asking him to intervene, and to Premier Ted Baillieu expressing your opposition to alpine grazing.

PS Thanks to those who have already sent emails or donated to this campaign.

TAKE ACTION, visit www.vnpa.org.au to find out how!

• The introduction of additional cattle to the existing sites, and to other sites in the park.

• The introduction of ‘scientific grazing’ to Kosciuszko National Park in NSW and Namadgi National Park in the ACT, and other natural areas.

Potentially, non-intervention could also allow such projects as ‘scientific research logging’, and ‘scientific research mining’, etc.

More importantly, it is clear from abundant scientific studies that alpine grazing cannot significantly reduce the impact of a bushfire. If there is a need to do this research, it could easily be done outside the Alpine National Park.

But there is no pressing need

for such research, and it is taking resources (and attention) away from far more important scientific research programs called for by the Bushfires Royal Commission.

The commission highlighted the need for knowledge on the effectiveness of different fuel reduction burning regimes in different ecosystems across the state. It also asked for research on the impact of bushfires, and fuel reduction programs, on biodiversity.

It is important to take the design of such research programs out of the hands of politicians, and hand it back to scientists and experienced land managers.

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Editor: Michael Howes Design: John Sampson Printing: Tara Press Nature’s Voice is the VNPA’s quarterly newsletter. The deadline for our April-May edition is 25 March.

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

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2 – Nature’s Voice | No 7 | February 2011

Central Victoria’s natural gems sparkle online Our new website, a Register of Special Places, showcases 20 highconservation public land areas that deserve permanent protection under the National Parks Act. Ranging from a few thousand hectares to more than 30,000, these ‘special places’ are home to a diverse range of native flowers, plants and wildlife species, many listed as endangered, threatened or rare.

They include the Wombat, Wellsford, Pyrenees, Muckleford and Harvest Home state forests.

The VNPA and local conservation groups want the government to commission a new VEAC study investigating a larger biolink across the region, boost management resources, and establish a major initiative to support landscape-scale habitat links in Victoria.

We’ll be working with local conservation groups to build up the Register so that it covers many other special places across Victoria.

Visit the Register of Special Places at www.specialplaces.vnpa.org.au.

Victorian National Parks Association

Government committed to VEAC marine study Simon Branigan Marine & Coastal Project

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his year is already shaping up to be another busy and exciting one for the VNPA’s marine and coastal campaign.

With the Baillieu Coalition Government now holding the reins of power, our focus has shifted to ensuring that the government upholds its election promise of a Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) investigation into marine and coastal areas.

Increasing amounts of scientific evidence are emerging about the incredible biodiversity benefits of marine national parks and their role in maintaining healthy oceans.

Victoria has just 5% of its marine waters securely protected, far below what is required to safeguard our marine environment against mounting pressures.

Our new collaborative website, Explore Underwater Victoria, is giving many people a unique view of Victoria’s marine wonders, both within and outside our marine national parks.

Stars of the website include Pygmy

The Wandering Anemone is just one of many stars featured in the new website Explore Underwater Victoria, at www.exploreunderwater.vnpa.org.au.

Photo: Mark Norman

Blue Whales feeding on krill in the south west, Short-tailed Nudibranchs at Somers Reef in Westernport, and Wandering Anemones in east Victoria.

This year and beyond we will continue to build awareness about the need for better protection for these marine animals’ habitats, and those of the other 12,000+ species that call Victorian waters home.

Stay tuned to find out more about 2011 campaign activities, and contact the VNPA if you would like a Marine Action Pack. This includes easy ways for you to get involved in

marine conservation and help win the campaign for our underwater mates.

Thank you for supporting our Marine Appeal!

Your generous support for this appeal is very much appreciated. It will allow us to continue working towards more marine national parks in Victoria and better protection for our unique marine environment.

You can support this appeal by filling in the coupon on page 7, phoning us on 9347 5188 or donating at www.marineappeal.vnpa.org.au.

Groups call for halt to Hastings port expansion plans

Sixteen environment and community groups including the VNPA have called for a halt on plans to significantly expand the Port of Hastings because of unacceptable risks to Westernport Bay. VNPA marine and coastal project officer Simon Branigan said Westernport has remarkable environmental and recreational values right on Melbourne’s doorstep.

“Extensive seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh habitats are nurseries for fish species, and important foraging, breeding and roosting habitat for www.vnpa.org.au

shorebirds and wader birds,” he said.

Blue Wedges Coalition spokesperson Jenny Warfe warned the plans could threaten Westernport’s natural values and its resilience to climate change impacts.

“Port expansion plans include new and upgraded road and rail transport corridors, significant dredging of the channel, the decimation of 4-6 km of mangroves, and substantial land reclamation,” she said.

“Plans to export 12 million tonnes of brown coal through Hastings by 2020 will add to traffic and pollution,

massively increase shipping traffic, and heighten the risk of contaminant spills in an area known to be extremely vulnerable to spills.”

The Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council’s Karri Giles said the expansion plans could ruin the bay as a tourist drawcard.

The groups have asked the State Government to carry out a comprehensive, independent, science-based assessment of the ecological values of Westernport, the threats to these values, and how they can be protected.

Nature’s Voice | No 7 | February 2011 – 3

Hunting threatens native bird recovery J

ust as native waterbirds were starting to recover from the 13-year drought, the Baillieu Government has announced a three-month recreational duck shooting season for 2011.

Laurie Levy from the Coalition against Duck Shooting (CADS) says waterbird numbers have only just begun recovering in response to last year’s rain, and that five years of adequate rain are needed for bird numbers to build up.

CADS is consulting environmental lawyers about legal action to prevent shooting on the Bellarine Peninsula, at Lake Connewarre, Reedy Lake and Hospital Swamp.

Magpie Geese: rare and threatened in Victoria.

As well as being feeding grounds for the critically endangered Orangebellied Parrot, these sites are home to at least four other threatened species – the Brolga, Australasian Bittern, Little Bittern and Magpie Goose.

There are serious wildlife policing problems across Victoria, with only 15 wildlife officers to patrol every shooting site – an impossible task.

It appears regional Department of Sustainability and Environment offices

Photo: marj k, flickr

don’t have the budget required – at least another $250,000 is needed for a wetlands presence during the three-month shooting season.

“Unfortunately, the job of protecting Victoria’s native waterbirds again falls to CADS rescue teams, which will be back on the wetlands in 2011,” Mr Levy said.

To help CADS protect our waterbirds, visit www.duck.org.au or call Lynn on 0414 816 509.

Koalas fenced out of Port Campbell wildlife corridor Recent developments at Port Campbell have raised the ire of a local group, which says they threaten the coastal village character and natural values of the area.

Marion Manifold from the Port Campbell Community Group says the privately-run camping ground, which is part of Port Campbell National Park, has been excised from the terms of the park’s management plan and that recent changes are threatening a coastal wildlife corridor.

She says a high wire fence and security gates have been built on the camping ground’s Tregea Street boundary, a move that effectively ‘privatises’ public land and changes the village character of Port Campbell.

“Koalas regularly cross the town to get to surrounding bush, and so this corridor must not be disrupted with impassible fences,” Ms Manifold says.

She is also concerned that the camping ground planning permit currently allows 15 cabins, but

Huts and fence on the camping ground’s Tregea St boundary. Photo: Marion Manifold

there are now 20, and says the Tregea Street cabins (pictured) were supposed to be removed under the management plan.

Frankston bushland friends honoured for dedication VNPA members Leon Costermans and Allan Sisson were among eight volunteers recently honoured for having worked for more than 25 years protecting Frankston’s natural environment.

They were all presented with Environmental Honours certificates from Frankston City Council in 4 – Nature’s Voice | No 7 | February 2011

November last year.

Botanical author Leon Costermans started the Friends of Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve in 1988, and has helped revitalise Frankston’s George Pentland Botanic Gardens, as well as mentoring other Friends groups.

Allan Sisson developed a

sustainable system to restore the Kananook Creek Northern Reserves after they were destroyed by fire in 1988, and has guided the Kananook Creek Association in planting 90,000 native plants and pulling out more than a million weeds.

– from The Senior News, November 2010 Victorian National Parks Association

No to cattle grazing in Barmah and Gunbower Nick Roberts Red Gum & River Rescue Project

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hile the new Victorian Government has taken backward steps with alpine cattle grazing and an extended duck shooting season, the Coalition’s minor partner stumbled over grazing in our new red gum national parks.

Just days after the government started its term, National Party member for Rodney Paul Weller was spruiking a Coalition ‘commitment’ to put cattle back into Barmah and Gunbower national parks.

The VNPA and local conservation groups knew the Coalition had made no such commitment. Before the election, Coalition environment spokesperson Mary Wooldridge said there was no policy or wish to reintroduce cattle grazing into red gum parks.

The Age reported on 13 December that “the first fault lines have emerged within Victoria’s new Coalition government, with Liberal and National Party MPs publicly at odds over environmental policy.”

The paper went on to state that when asked if the Liberal ranks of the Coalition agreed with the plan to put cattle back into those forests, Mr Weller said: “Yep, it’s Coalition policy.”

But the new Environment and Climate Change Minister, Liberal MP for Warrandyte Ryan Smith, said there

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Plants, animals and people can now enjoy cattle-free Barmah and Gunbower national parks.

Photo: Jacquie Kelly

“are no plans to reintroduce cattle grazing to Barmah and Gunbower forests”.

The VNPA strongly welcomed the public recognition by the minister that there was no such policy.

The saga culminated in an extraordinarily embarrassing ABC radio interview with Paul Weller, in which he had completely changed his position in just 24 hours.

The next day (14 December), The Age was reporting: “Mr Ryan, who is leader of the Nationals, did not criticise Mr Weller yesterday but confirmed that Mr Baillieu and Mr Smith had the correct version of government policy.”

Mr Ryan said he could guarantee cattle would not return to those two forests during the current term of Parliament. This very clear commitment is strongly supported

by the scientific evidence.

But what this public relations nightmare for the government has highlighted is the tension between Liberal and National politics in Victoria, and the problems that can occur when clear policy is absent.

The Victorian Coalition failed to release a comprehensive environment policy before the 2010 election.

The VNPA looks forward to working closely with the new minister on developing sound, progressive and comprehensive policies for the protection and restoration of Victoria’s natural environment.

In the meantime, Barmah and Gunbower national parks will remain cattle-free, thanks to the VNPA and sound policy from the Liberal Party, but with no thanks to the member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

International Year of the Forests Did you know forests cover 31% of the world’s total area, and are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity?

The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests to promote the conservation and sustainable management and development of all types of forests.

Locally, Zoos Victoria’s conservation campaign ‘Wipe for Wildlife’ aims to get people to protect forests by using recycled toilet paper.

For more information you can visit www.un.org/forests, or go to www.zoo.org.au/wipe.

Nature’s Voice | No 7 | February 2011 – 5

Timor-Leste honours David Scott AO Former Chair of the Land Conservation Council (now VEAC), David Scott AO is greatly respected by the VNPA. David, 85, has spent much of his life dedicated to community service overseas and in Australia.

In November, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta presented the Insignia Da Ordem De Timor-Leste to David in recognition of his contribution to the people of TimorLeste over more than 30 years.

The VNPA congratulates David on this award and on his services to the community and the environment.

Ros Garnet’s History of Wilsons Promontory The VNPA published this fascinating history online in 2009. The author was one of the VNPA’s founders and its secretary from 1952 to 1973.

You can now read this history in ebook format, making it much easier to find sections of particular interest to you.

To read the ebook online go to www.theprom.vnpa.org.au.

Clean Up Australia Day Clean Up Australia Day, on Sunday 6 March, is fun, easy and everyone can get involved.

To register: phone 1800 282 392 or visit www.cleanup.org.au.

Indigo Shire Council has refused Holcim Australia a planning permit to establish a stone quarry at Skeleton Hill, adjoining Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP. Photo: Richard Thiel

Council rejects Chiltern quarry planning permit Graeme Charles Friends of Skeleton Hill

At its December meeting, Indigo Shire councillors in north-eastern Victoria voted unanimously to refuse a planning permit that would have allowed a stone quarry development on Skeleton Hill, south of Chiltern and adjoining Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP (see Nature’s Voice April-May 2010).

The reasons for the refusal were: 1. The proposed extractive industry would have an unreasonable impact on the visual landscape in the Chiltern area.

2. The proposal is inconsistent with state and local planning policy frameworks in relation to heritage and tourism.

3. The proposal is inconsistent with the requirements of the Indigo Planning Scheme in that it would adversely affect the environment and amenity of the Chiltern area.

4. The proposal would result in unacceptable impact on the Chiltern Box-Ironbark National Park Heritage Place.

5. The proposal would have an unreasonable impact on the Ironbark Forest landscape identified by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), making the proposal contrary to the Indigo Planning Scheme.

The proponents, Holcim Australia P/L, have now applied to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to appeal the Indigo Shire’s decision – an interesting move, given the apparent strength of the council’s reasons for refusing the application.

– The VNPA congratulates the Friends group, the Friends of Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP and other groups and individuals on their campaign against this inappropriate quarry proposal, and will keep members up to date on developments.

NatureWatch N

atureWatch is taking a new and exciting direction in 2011 with a remote camera mammal monitoring project.

Grassland monitoring

The aim of the project is to monitor the response of small mammal populations to control burning.

Our fantastic Grassland Threatened Species monitoring projects are also continuing, with counts of the endangered Growling Grass Frog at a quarry site in Epping with Biosis Research and City of Whittlesea staff.

We hope to begin monitoring at sites in the Box-Ironbark and South Western regions by autumn.

There may be two or three evenings of monitoring in February, so let us know if you’re keen to be involved!

Please contact Ada if you are interested in being involved.

We plan to continue Plains Yam Daisy monitoring as soon as the site dries out

6 – Nature’s Voice | No 7 | February 2011

enough, and will let interested volunteers know when work is going ahead. Striped Legless Lizard and Golden Sun Moth surveys will also be on again in spring.

If you’d like to be involved in planning our new SLL surveys, please contact Ada ASAP on 9341 6513 (Wednesdays and Fridays), email adan@vnpa.org.au or visit www.naturewatch.vnpa.org.au.

NatureWatch is supported by the Port Phillip & Westernport CMA, Parks Victoria, and Caring for our Country (federal).

Victorian National Parks Association

Sustainable Living Festival, 12-27 Feb Melbourne will once again play host to Australia’s largest sustainability event this month when the Sustainable Living Festival takes over Federation Square.

The main event, the Exhibitor Market, will be held 18-20 February, while the entire festival runs for two weeks, 12-27 February.

Please visit the VNPA stall, and come to the Victoria Naturally Alliance’s special free presentation, ‘The Power of Story’.

Another highlight will be gardening workshops being held by Sustainable Gardening Australia at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. Running each Sunday until the end of February they include ‘Garden Plants for the Werribee Plains’ and ‘Creating Habitat Gardens’. To book visit www.sgaonline.org.au.

Dr Siwan Lovett.

Frank Fitzgerald-Ryan.

Presentation: The Power of Story Date: Sunday 20 February Time: 1.30-3pm

Venue: BMW Edge, Fed Square Cost: FREE!

H

ear how stories engage, connect and motivate people and communities, and bring about change, at this year’s Sustainable Living Festival through this free presentation, The Power of Story.

Speakers Siwan Lovett and Frank Ryan will demonstrate how to link information on the climate and biodiversity crisis to changing behaviour using the power of story.

For more information visit www.victorianaturally.org.au.

Please help us review the VNPA ‘brand’!

T he VNPA turns 60 next year.

Founded in 1952 to increase the number and improve the protection of national parks in Victoria, it’s grown into a much larger and more diverse organisation with a broader focus on nature conservation.

It’s been felt for some time that the VNPA ‘brand’ no longer adequately communicates what we do. We need to update our image and communicate the diversity of our conservation work to the community,

government, media, business and potential new supporters.

As approved by the VNPA Council, the Marketing and Membership Committee is seeking professional advice to review our brand and recommend updates. We want to identify and differentiate VNPA in a competitive world.

Your views are very important!

Please help us by completing the enclosed survey and sending it back

by Monday 28 February.

Completed surveys received by then will go into a draw to win a $55 gift voucher for books from the VNPA catalogue, as listed at www.books. vnpa.org.au.

The survey is also available online at www.survey.vnpa.org.au. For any queries please email us at vnpa@ vnpa.org.au or phone 9347 5188.

We look forward to receiving your feedback!

– Emily Clough, Fundraising and Marketing Manager

✓ 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 $................ to the MARINE PAYMENT METHOD

appeal.

PERSONAL DETAILS

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

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or ALPINE GRAZING

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Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

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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