National Parks Act - Parliament of Victoria · 4 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Management and other planning As at 30 June

National Parks ActAnnual Report 2018

© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018

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Notes• During the year the responsible Minister was the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate

Change.

• In this report:

– the Act means the National Parks Act 1975

– DELWP means the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

– the Minister means the Minister responsible for administering the Act

– PV means Parks Victoria

– the Regulations means the National Parks Regulations 2013

– the Secretary means the Secretary to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

Cover imageAnglesea Heath, Great Otway National Park (image: Saul Vermeeren)

AccessibilityIf you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone DELWP Customer Service Centre 136 186, email [email protected], or via the National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au

1National Parks Act Annual Report 2018

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Foreword

This annual report on the working of the National Parks Act 1975 for the year ended 30 June 2018 is provided to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, under section 35 of the Act.

The Act establishes the statutory basis for the protection, use and management of an outstanding system of more than 100 national and other parks covering approximately 3.46 million hectares.

The parks conserve some of Victoria’s most special places and provide a wide range of opportunities for visitors to experience and enjoy the state’s diverse natural environments. These visits, which, based on the latest visitor statistics in 2016-17, totalled some 42.3 million visits to national and state parks, make

economy.

Until 12 September 2018 the Secretary has the statutory responsibility for ensuring that the parks and other areas to which the Act applies are controlled and managed in accordance with the Act. Parks Victoria is responsible for managing those areas on the Secretary’s behalf and works in partnership with DELWP.

12 September 2018 when the Parks Victoria Act 2018 commences, heralding a new era of governance arrangements for the management of Victoria’s parks. Parks Victoria will be re-established as a strengthened and more independent park management agency with clearer lines of accountability to the Minister. These changes mean that Parks Victoria will become directly responsible for the control and management of the national and other parks under the National Parks Act.

highlights for the parks system during the year include:

• adding some 6360 hectares to existing parks, notably most of the Anglesea Heath (6332 ha) to the Great Otway National Park

• of Mount Eccles National Park to Budj Bim National Park

• of 10 river red gum national and other parks in northern Victoria

• management of feral horses in the Alpine National Park

• controlling weeds and pest animals, including marine pests, such as the $1.5 million investment to protect alpine habitats

• including the delivery of more than 214 gigalitres into the Snowy River and more than 110 gigalitres to Hattah Lakes

• and other emergencies

• the considerable maintenance work undertaken on the Mount Buffalo Chalet.

I would also like to highlight the work undertaken in conjunction with Traditional Owner Land Management Boards in the development of joint management plans for 10 parks under the Act in Gippsland and north central Victoria. There is an increasing focus on joint management, with negotiations underway with Traditional Owner groups in other parts of the state over the possibility of further joint management arrangements.

Working with the community and partner organisations is an increasing feature of park management. I acknowledge the extensive and committed contributions that volunteers and partner organisations – along with Parks Victoria and DELWP staff – made to the protection and management of our parks during the year.

John Bradley Secretary to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

2 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018


Contents

Foreword 1

Contents 2

A representative parks system 3

Areas managed under the Act 3

Changes to areas managed under the Act 3

Management and other planning 4

Managing natural and cultural values 5

Managing natural values 5

Monitoring natural values 8

Researching natural values 9

Managing cultural values 10

11

11

12

Encouraging visitors, tourism and community involvement 13

Enhancing visitor enjoyment and tourism 13

Supporting visitors with disabilities 13

Visits to parks 13

Licensed tour operators 14

Informing, interpreting and educating 14

Volunteers 14

Partnering with Traditional Owners 15

Joint management 15

Co-operative management 15

Other Traditional Owner partnerships 15

Supporting park management 16

Management arrangements 16

Legislation 16

Authorities under the Act 17

Enforcement 17

Interstate cooperation 19

Advisory bodies 19

Appendix 1 – Areas managed under the National Parks Act 20

Appendix 2 – Location of parks and other areas 30



A representative parks system

Areas managed under the Act

As at 30 June 2018 there were 139 areas with a total area of approximately 3.46 million hectares managed under various provisions of the Act. Appendix 1 lists the areas and Appendix 2 shows their location.

The 139 areas comprised:

• 124 areas listed on various schedules to the Act

– 45 national parks (Schedule Two)

– 3 wilderness parks (Schedule Two A)

– 26 state parks (Schedule Two B)

– 5 coastal parks, 3 historic parks, 1 nature conservation reserve, 8 regional parks and Haining Farm (Schedule Three)

– 3 marine and coastal parks, 2 marine parks, 1 marine reserve, 1 national heritage park and 1 nature conservation reserve (Schedule Four)

– 13 marine national parks (Schedule Seven)

– 11 marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight)

• 15 non-scheduled areas to which particular provisions of the Act apply.

particular national parks:

• 19 wilderness zones (Schedule Five) in 7 national parks (see Appendix 1)

• 22 remote and natural areas (Schedule Six) in 12 national parks (see Appendix 1)

• 4 designated water supply catchment areas in the Great Otway, Kinglake and Yarra Ranges national parks.

Changes to areas managed under the Act

On 15 December 2017 an area totalling 6361 hectares was added to the parks system and an area totalling 0.34 hectares was excised (see Table 1). Of particular note was the addition of most of the Anglesea Heath to the Great Otway National Park.

There were also corrections to the plans of Lower Goulburn National Park and Warrandyte State Park.

The name of Mount Eccles National Park was changed in the Act to Budj Bim National Park in

of the Budj Bim area.

Table 1 – Changes to parks

ParkAddition

(ha)Excision

(ha)Description

Croajingolong NP 27 – Addition of area of formerly purchased land (Jingalong) east of Mallacoota Inlet.

Greater Bendigo NP 0.36 0.14Addition of mostly vegetated government road and excision of cleared powerline easement in the vicinity of Edwards Road.

Great Otway NP 6332 – Most of the Anglesea Heath, with its exceptional

several rare and threatened species.

Warrandyte SP 0.03 0.02Adjustment of park boundary in vicinity of Warrandyte Bridge.

Castlemaine Diggings NHP

1.66 –

Addition of the Monster Meeting site near Chewton,

protest against a government in Australia in 1851 and a precursor to the Eureka Rebellion.

NHP National Heritage ParkNP National ParkSP State Park



Management and other planning

As at 30 June 2018 there were approved management plans for all or parts of 43 national parks, 3 wilderness parks, 25 state parks, 18 other parks and reserves, 13 marine national parks and 11 marine sanctuaries.

The Partnering with Traditional Owners section of the report includes further information on management planning for jointly managed parks.

During the year:

• River Red Gum Parks Management Plan – the plan

in 2018–19. Finalising the plan involved extensive community consultation and consideration of more than 170 written and online submissions received on the Draft Plan

The plan covers more than 215 000 hectares of parks and reserves along the Murray, Goulburn and Ovens Rivers between Wodonga and the South Australian border. These include Gunbower, Hattah-Kulkyne, Lower Goulburn and Warby–Ovens national parks, part of Murray–Sunset National Park, Leaghur State Park and Gadsen Bend, Kings Billabong, Nyah–Vinifera and Murray–Kulkyne parks as well as more than 100 other areas not under the Act.

• Point Nepean National Park Master Plan – the plan

This master plan provides a framework for investment in the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings within the Quarantine Station to support outstanding visitor experiences as well as a stronger emphasis on the park’s broader visitor economy context, highlights the park’s natural and cultural values and their relevance beyond the park, and includes a more robust implementation framework.

• Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing Master Plan – the strategic plan for this multi-day walk through the

released

• Shipwreck Coast Master Plan – precinct planning to support the delivery of stage 1 of the plan was completed.

Amendments were made to the existing management plans for the following parks:

• Dandenong Ranges National Park – to allow for cycling and mountain biking in nominated areas

• the ban on dog walking in the park

• Lerderderg State Park – to remove camping as an activity at O’Briens Crossing, develop a camping area at Upper Chadwick and outline changes in related facilities.



Managing natural and cultural values

Managing natural values

The basis for setting strategic priorities for environmental management in areas under the Act includes Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks Effectiveness Evaluation Program and relevant conservation action plans. On-ground works are prioritised to protect the highest environmental values at greatest risk. Examples of projects in the various environmental management program areas are provided below.

Parks Victoria’s State of the Parks program evaluates the condition of the parks network and the effectiveness in meeting park management goals for nature conservation, culture and heritage, visitor

emergency management. The information is derived

stakeholder and community knowledge, Traditional Owners, state and corporate data sets and park manager assessments.

In 2017–18 assessments were completed for all parks under the Act. The information collected will be used to highlight achievements as well as current and emerging threats and issues, to inform and adapt park management programs, and to report to the community on management outcomes.

Parks Victoria is developing conservation action plans for each of its 16 planning landscapes to guide investment in environmental protection, improvement and restoration of the public land conservation estate, including areas under the Act.

strategies and activities that can be implemented, monitored and adapted.

During the year, conservation action plans for the Grampians and Wimmera landscapes were

and Gippsland Plains and Strzelecki landscapes.

Managing threatened species and communities

Parks Victoria and DELWP continued to work with the community and key partner agencies to manage threatened species. This work included programs delivered as part of managing invasive species (e.g. fox control) or habitat restoration (e.g. the Victorian Alpine Peatland Protection Program). The government’s Biodiversity On-ground Action Program, including Regional Landscapes and Targeted Action projects, supported several projects in parks.

Examples of activities during the year relating to the management of threatened species and communities include:

• alpine communities – the protection of alpine bogs and fencing to protect the long-term monitoring plots

•

community to herbivore management in Hattah-Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks

• Mallee Emu-wren – a trial translocation of 40 birds from Hattah-Kulkyne and Murray-Sunset national parks to Ngarkat Conservation Park in South Australia to increase the dispersal of self-sustaining populations and reduce the risk of losing the

Managing invasive species

Managing invasive species is vital to protecting our parks and is a key delivery area in the management of natural values. Programs included those at a landscape-scale as well as projects targeting particular species in various parks.

and Pests on Public Land Program, Good Neighbour Program and the Sustainability Fund to support

invasive species. The federal government also contributes funding to some projects.

Developing improved approaches to the management of feral horses and deer was a key focus during the year and involved comprehensive

strategic plan to guide the management of feral horses in the Alpine National Park was developed by Parks Victoria and approved for implementation by the Minister.

Landscape-scale programs included those summarised in Table 2 as well as the long-term Eden and Ark programs, which include various parks within their scope:

• Eden programs – aim to control high-threat invasive plants

– Central Highlands Eden (Baw Baw and Yarra Ranges national parks and Bunyip and Moondarra state parks)

– Glenelg Eden (Cobboboonee, Lower Glenelg and Mount Richmond national parks, Cape Nelson State Park and Discovery Bay Coastal Park)

– Otway Eden (Great Otway and Port Campbell national parks)

• Ark programs – aim to control foxes to protect small native mammals



– Central Highlands Ark (Lake Eildon and Yarra Ranges national parks and Cathedral Range State Park)

– Glenelg Ark (Cobboboonee, Lower Glenelg and Mount Richmond national parks and Discovery Bay Coastal Park)

– Grampians Ark (Grampians National Park and Black Range State Park)

– Otway Ark (Great Otway and Port Campbell national parks)

– Southern Ark (Alfred, Alpine (part), Coopracambra, Croajingolong, Errinundra, Lind and Snowy River national parks, Lake Tyers State Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park).

Parks Victoria continued to work with the Australian Deer Association and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) using volunteer hunters to help control deer, feral goats, feral pigs and foxes. Projects included those in the following national parks: Alpine (sambar deer), Barmah (feral pigs), Dandenong Ranges (sambar deer), Grampians (feral goats and red deer), Murray-Sunset (feral goats) and Wilsons Promontory (hog deer). This collaborative program is increasingly focusing on the impacts of deer in parks.

The Managing marine values section of the report contains information on the control of marine pests.

Table 2 – Landscape invasive species control programs

PV region / program Activity

Multi-region

Good Neighbour Program

This program seeks to control invasive species on the public-private land inter-face. Environment and agricultural weeds, including blackberry, boneseed, broom, cape tulip, gorse, Patterson’s curse, serrated tussock and St John’s wort, were controlled in high priority areas. Established pest animals including rabbits, foxes, goats and pigs were managed to reduce their impacts and contain populations.

Northern Victoria

Recovering Rangelands: Mallee Bounceback

Landscape-scale rabbit management in the Mallee parks (including Hattah-Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks) continues to be delivered

and to minimise the damage that rabbits can cause to Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Eastern Victoria

Alps Intensive Management Program

This program again treated blackberry, broom, willow and several other species in the Alpine National Park and included wild horse control and monitoring.

Hawkweed Eradication Program

Volunteers again participated in this program aimed at detecting and eradicat-ing the three highly invasive and state-prohibited hawkweed species (King-devil, Mouse-ear and Orange) from the Bogong High Plains (Alpine National Park) and the adjoining Falls Creek Alpine Resort.

Melbourne Metropolitan and Melbourne Marine and Maritime

Peri-urban Weed Management Partnership

and public land managers, including Parks Victoria. It supports projects in Melbourne’s peri-urban areas that protect key environmental values on public land from high threat weeds, including, in 2017–18, in Churchill, Dandenong Ranges, Kinglake, Organ Pipes and Point Nepean national parks as well as Arthurs Seat and Warrandyte state parks.

Ramsar Protection Program

This program aims to control invasive species across the Western Port and Port Phillip Western Shoreline Ramsar sites, including broadscale programs to control

native species occurring in French Island, Port Phillip Heads and Yaringa marine national parks and the neighbouring French Island National Park.



Managing native animals

Long-term programs to manage the impact of overabundant kangaroo and koala populations continued in several parks. Excessive numbers threaten habitats and can result in animal welfare issues. The programs are underpinned by established species management plans developed with the support of key stakeholders, including technical advisory committees.

Red and Western Grey Kangaroos were again controlled in Hattah-Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks as part of managing the total grazing pressure on the parks from kangaroos, goats and rabbits to protect regenerating woodland habitats.

Overabundant koalas in Budj Bim National Park continued to be managed through the use of contraceptive implants. On French Island, 141 female koalas were treated with contraceptive implants, with the aim of managing the population to a sustainable level and protecting associated koala habitat on private land and within the national park. Koalas were again translocated from private land on Cape Otway to the Great Otway National Park.

Managing habitat restoration

Programs during the year to restore habitat through the control of invasive weeds, pest animals and over-abundant native animals included:

• Hattah-Kulkyne, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks – further revegetation in the semi-arid woodlands to enhance natural regeneration enabled by grazer control, in areas

reproductive trees

• Alpine and Dandenong Ranges national parks – control of deer to reduce the impacts of deer on wet forests and alpine peatlands

• Budj Bim and French Island national parks – the management of koalas (see Managing native animals)

• Wilsons Promontory National Park – continuation of the program to restore coastal grassy woodlands, including further development of a management approach to exotic and native grazers in the park.

The Victorian Alpine Peatland Protection Program, established in 2013, is a partnership between Parks Victoria, the East Gippsland, North East and West Gippsland catchment management authorities and the Australian Government. Projects were

undertaken to reduce the threats to peatlands from pest plants and animal invasion and to improve peatland resilience. These included weed control, peatland rehabilitation and deer control.

in the Grampians and Great Otway national parks (Anglesea Heath). There was pre-burn monitoring of habitat structure and camera surveys for small mammals prior to autumn mosaic burning.

Managing environmental water

Following the wet year of 2016–17, much of the state experienced generally drier than average climatic conditions in 2017–18. This meant that many of the wetlands which were inundated in the previous year

environmental water, were receding by the start of 2017–18.

As a result of previous rainfall, environmental water holders held large allocations of water for the environment. The Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH), working in partnership with catchment management authorities, waterway managers and land managers including Parks Victoria, was able to allocate these entitlements to

consolidate the positive ecological outcomes that

Water was provided by the VEWH as well as the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (The Living Murray Program), the New South Wales Department of Industry and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.

Of particular relevance to parks:

• Alpine and Snowy River national parks – more than 214 gigalitres of water was released for the

events, the largest volume of water ever released from Lake Jindabyne to the Snowy River in one year

The releases aim to support ecological processes in the river below Jindabyne Dam and improve the physical attributes of the river by scouring and depositing sediment and limiting the growth of riparian plants within the channel.

• Barmah National Park – a new approach to regulator operation was trialled which saw most regulators in Barmah Forest open between July

rise and fall in water levels within the lower lying forest waterways



Environmental water was used in between these

Environmental water was also delivered to colonial waterbird breeding sites in Barmah Forest.

• Hattah-Kulkyne National Park – the internationally

110 gigalitres of water for the environment in winter–spring 2017, providing the largest

This environmental water delivery capitalised

Hattah Lakes as possible, and supporting the further germination, growth and recovery of black box trees.

Other environmental watering relevant to parks

National Park) and watering at Lindsay-Mulcra-Walpolla islands (Murray-Sunset National Park).

Managing marine values

Marine invasive species are a serious threat to the integrity of Victoria’s marine ecosystems across all state waters, including in protected areas. These include exotic species that harm the health of marine ecosystems as well as overabundant native

impacted on important habitats.

During the year, a marine pest initiative focused on preventing the spread of pests, particularly from Port Phillip Bay to other areas of the state, as well as responding to new and emerging issues.

The control of overabundant Black-spined Sea Urchins was a focus in Cape Howe Marine National Park and Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary.

In South Gippsland’s Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park, overgrazing by the Purple Sea Urchin has created large vegetation-free barrens in seagrass habitats while, in Port Phillip Bay, the same

species on reefs in Jawbone and Point Cooke marine sanctuaries. Working in partnership with research partners, volunteers, Victorian Fisheries Authority

has been undertaking sea urchin culling trials using an adaptive management approach, including removing approximately 17 000 Purple Sea Urchins from Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary.

Monitoring natural values

Monitoring is a fundamental part of good park management. It is essential for understanding the state of our natural values and the things that threaten them, as well as evaluating how effectively these threats and the conservation and protection of Victoria’s special places are being addressed. This leads to ongoing improvement in effectiveness by highlighting where we are doing well and where we can improve.

Terrestrial environments

Monitoring natural values in areas under the Act included monitoring the following:

• the condition and rehabilitation of threatened alpine peatlands in the Alpine National Park

• the condition of vegetation in Kara Kara National Park, including threatened and depleted vegetation communities

• the condition of grassland habitat and populations of threatened grassland fauna in Terrick Terrick National Park

• the assemblages of ground-dwelling mammals at Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Monitoring environmental threats in areas under the Act included monitoring the following:

• exotic weeds and invasive native plants in the Dandenong Ranges and Grampians national parks

• the responses of foxes to landscape baiting programs through various Ark projects, including in Cobboboonee, Coopracambra, Croajingolong, Grampians, Great Otway, Lower Glenelg, Snowy River and Yarra Ranges national parks. These projects also monitor threatened mammal species which are subject to fox predation

• the occurrence of foxes and feral cats in Hattah-Kulkyne, Little Desert, Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks, in conjunction with the Victorian Mallefowl Recovery Group.

DELWP’s Victorian Forests Monitoring Program provides a platform to assess and monitor the health and condition of Victoria’s public forests, support policy and management decisions, and meet its reporting obligations. As at 30 June 2018 the program had measured 683 permanent monitoring plots located in State forest and forested parks and conservation reserves. These include a

year in areas under the Act.



The program also derives information related to the state and trends of forest areas from remote sensing products using aerial photography and satellite imagery. This analysis facilitates observations of disturbance dating back to 1988 and has the capacity to produce state-wide mapping layers of forest biometrics including biodiversity, carbon and indicators associated with forest health.

Marine environments

Improved monitoring programs are being implemented by Parks Victoria for Point Addis and Port Phillip Heads marine national parks. The new program uses standard diver-based methods as well as new technology including drones, towed video, baited remote underwater video stations and multibeam sonar surveys. The program runs in partnership with industry and university collaborations.

Researching natural values

Research authorisations

Research, study and investigation in areas on the schedules to the Act are authorised under section 20 or 21A of the Act, sometimes in conjunction with a permit under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, the Reference Areas Act 1978 or the Wildlife Act 1975.

A total of 279 research permits were issued during the year: 181 were new permits and 98 were renewed permits. These permits enabled research to be carried out in 111 parks (a permit may cover more than one park) or in all parks if required (23 permits).

The parks for which 10 or more permits were issued (in addition to the ‘all parks’ permits) were: Alpine (34), Croajingolong (13), French Island (12), Grampians (15), Greater Bendigo (10), Great Otway (28), Mornington Peninsula (10), Mount Buffalo (12), Murray-Sunset (14), Point Nepean (10), Snowy River (11), Wilsons Promontory (21) and Yarra Ranges (20) national parks, Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park (10) and Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park (16).

Research authorised under the permits included:

• multiple national and other parks along the coast, marine national parks and marine sanctuaries, from Port Campbell National Park to Croajingolong National Park – research to quantify carbon sequestered by coastal ecosystems

• Murray-Sunset and Wyperfeld national parks – research into the accuracy, performance and utility of remote area fuel hazard assessment techniques

• Great Otway National Park – collection of seeds and individuals of the Tall Astelia and establishment of a new population to mitigate the risk of climate change on this threatened rainforest herb

• Warby-Ovens National Park – research to

of the Ovens River through the examination of sediment cores from wetlands

• Wilsons Promontory National Park – investigations at Kanowna Island into the breeding and foraging ecology of diving petrels and fairy prions in Bass Strait.

Research programs

Parks Victoria’s highly successful Research Partners Panel facilitates collaborative research to answer important questions and improve park management. During 2017–18, 17 new projects were initiated in areas under the Act, and many other multi-year projects continued to address critical knowledge gaps. This work was in addition to the hundreds of research projects facilitated and supported by Parks Victoria each year through the research permit system.

Research Partners Projects cover a diverse range of issues and involve expert researchers and students from the partner institutions. Projects involving terrestrial environments during the year included:

• Alpine National Park – partnering with the Arthur Rylah Institute to assess feral horse impacts on fragile alpine peatlands and other environmental values on the Bogong High Plains to help support the Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan

• Barmah National Park – working with the

experts to develop optimal strategies to protect

gum trees during planned burn operations as a case study which can be applied to other river red

• Great Otway National Park – continued collaboration with Deakin University to understand the status of endangered mammal species in the heathlands of the park, including new research to identify key habitat refuges

• Wilsons Promontory National Park – a new project with La Trobe University to investigate the causes of decline in Banksias.



Projects involving marine environments included:

• continuing the monitoring of marine biodiversity of inshore reefs at priority marine national parks, including Point Addis, Port Phillip Heads and Wilsons Promontory

• of Bunurong Marine National Park and further

Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.

Managing cultural values

Managing Aboriginal heritage

Parks Victoria continued to actively manage Aboriginal cultural heritage values across the state. Key projects undertaken during the year included:

• continuing a collaborative project in northern Victoria to undertake Traditional Owner-led on-ground protection of Aboriginal ancestral remains and cultural heritage places, including

– constructing rabbit-proof fencing at Lindsay Island (Murray-Sunset National Park)

– capping roads in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and at Wallpolla Island (Murray-Sunset National Park)

– surveying an estimated 900 registered Aboriginal places in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

• considerable work in relation to conserving rock art, including

– commencing an audit of the condition of rock art to determine the issues and risks to rock art so that these can be prioritised for restoration and protection with Traditional Owner groups

– detailed cataloguing and recording of rock art shelters, including in Black Range and Kooyoora state parks

– protection works at several rock art shelters in the Grampians National Park.

Managing historic heritage

The management of historic heritage in parks during the year included:

• works undertaken to protect the Mount Buffalo Chalet

– major maintenance works to repair and revitalise

structural repairs were carried out on the northern wall and the ballroom roof was replaced

– general maintenance works, including re-

windows and doors, repair of external stonework, replacement of weatherboards and painting of internal rooms and external walls

• repairs to the machinery shed at Glenample Homestead.

Parks Victoria also worked to improve the way in which it manages historic heritage in parks through the development of a Heritage Asset Management App to document the condition of the fabric of substantial heritage assets (buildings) and to estimate the cost of repairs and catch-up maintenance.



conditions over winter and spring, followed by average rain through the summer months. There

which burnt an area of 18 417 hectares.

activity by Parks Victoria and DELWP in relation to

this year in areas under the Act was lightning.

Dingo Hill Track Fire, which burnt 10 839 hectares in remote areas of the Alpine National Park. Parks Victoria worked with DELWP to develop strategies

biodiversity impacts and help reduce fuel levels. The

suppression tactics (e.g. minimal use of bulldozers).

Planned burning

Dry conditions in early autumn delayed the start of the autumn planned burning program. Following rain in late March, conditions improved but were variable across the state in 2017–18. There were 67 completed burns undertaken in areas under the Act, treating a total area of nearly 21 300 hectares.

This area included burns in the following national parks: Burrowa-Pine Mountain (approximately 1000 ha), Grampians (3600 ha), Murray-Sunset (2700 ha), Little Desert (2100 ha) and Yarra Ranges (just over 2300 ha) as well as in Mount Lawson State Park (3700 ha). Also included were several burns totalling approximately 450 hectares in the Great

to some coastal communities along the Great Ocean Road.

Planned burning was also undertaken in Wilsons Promontory National Park as part of the program to restore Coastal Grassy Woodlands.

Melbourne Fire and Emergency Program

The Melbourne Fire and Emergency Program aims to

areas. This year the program included Churchill, Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, Organ Pipes and Point Nepean national parks, Arthurs Seat

Woodlands Historic Park.

Activities completed in areas under the Act again included works on fuel breaks, upgrading roads and

post-burn as part of a 10-year program to improve vegetation condition to offset native vegetation losses from previous fuel break works. There was

behaviour and community education.

Planning, monitoring and research

and Reporting (MER) projects undertaken in areas under the Act. These projects provide valuable

planning.

undertaken to determine the effectiveness of planned burning. Additionally, a fuel accumulation pilot project was completed in the Grampians and Lower Glenelg national parks, which will help inform

prediction models.

ecosystem resilience monitoring program which was initiated in 2017–18 as a pilot involving monitoring habitat and fauna at 106 sites in the Grampians and Greater Bendigo national parks and Lerderderg

to establish 2200 sites in native vegetation on public land by 2025. In addition, there were four ecosystem resilience projects undertaken, one in each of four Parks Victoria regions (Table 3). The outputs from these MER projects will be used to inform improved



Table 3 – Monitoring evaluation and reporting projects

PV region Park Activity

Western Victoria Great Otway NPAssessing habitat and fauna, focused on the Anglesea heathlands.

Northern Victoria Barmah NPAssessing different mitigation techniques for protecting

relation to planned burning operations.

Eastern Victoria Croajingolong NPMonitoring the effects of planned burning on the rare Mountain Banksia to improve knowledge of key meas-

Melbourne Metropolitan

Yarra Ranges NPspecies, such as Leadbeaters possum.

NP National Park

other emergencies

The recovery program associated with various emergencies since 2014 continued, along with

occurred during the year:

• $4 million has been spent to date on recovery from

conclude in December 2018

visitor asset repair or replacement, environmental works such as the Integrated Pest Herbivore Control Program and the mapping, management and control of sallow wattle, and cultural heritage works including developing a Gariwerd Cultural Heritage Action Plan, a traditional ecological knowledge project, cultural site cataloguing and rock art conservation.

• Wye River-Jamieson Track Fire (2015–16) – there was community consultation in planning for future visitor facilities in the Great Otway National Park as part of the recovery program, which is reaching the delivery phase of community recovery projects from state funding of $3.4 million

• affected numerous areas under the Act (including some which were already in recovery from earlier events such as the Alpine, Kinglake, Lake Eildon, Murray-Sunset and Yarra Ranges national parks and Cathedral Range State Park), leading to a recovery program of more than $10 million that is

delivery.



Encouraging visitors, tourism and community involvementEnhancing visitor enjoyment and tourism

Parks Victoria continued to improve visitor and tourist access and enjoyment while maintaining park values and reducing risks.

Works to enhance visitor enjoyment and increase nature-based tourism opportunities included:

• Grampians National Park – work on Stage 2 of the Grampians Peak Trail, including upgrading 50 kilometres of pre-existing tracks, designing hiker camps, securing planning approvals and undertaking ecological and cultural heritage surveys along the entire trail length

• Mount Buffalo National Park – upgrading the day visitor area at the Gorge and works on the lower car park

• Port Campbell National Park

– design work for Stage 1 of the Shipwreck Master Plan, which consists of a new Saddle Lookout and trails at the Twelve Apostles, a new lookout at the Blowhole at Loch Ard and a new pedestrian bridge and trail at Port Campbell Creek

– the engagement of Wannon Water to design works to deliver drinking water from Port Campbell to the Twelve Apostles Visitors Centre and a new sewerage pipeline from the centre to a treatment facility in Port Campbell

• Wilsons Promontory National Park – commencement of the design of works at the Wilson Promontory Lightstation, including replacing the roofs of several buildings and upgrading the drinking water supply infrastructure and the sewer system

• Arthurs Seat State Park – further implementation of the landscape master plan, including upgrading walking tracks, visitor facilities, carparks and planning for the extended carpark associated with the Arthurs Seat Eagle (gondola)

• Bay of Islands Coastal Park – further planning, including a cultural heritage assessment, for the replacement of the steps at Childers Cove.

Supporting visitors with disabilities

Parks Victoria continued its work to ensure parks are more accessible for people with a disability and to encourage greater inclusion. During the year:

• Dandenong Ranges National Park – the volunteer Sherpa program for visitors with mobility issues was expanded to include this park. There is a TrailRider for visitor use at Grants Picnic Ground and visitors can now explore selected walking trails in Sherbrooke Forest with the assistance of Sherpa volunteers

• Wilsons Promontory National Park

– an all-abilities Junior Ranger program was delivered to children visiting the park over the Easter school holidays

– there was work on developing a social script (using clear, focused language and pictures) to help children on the autism spectrum who may visit Tidal River

– Parks Victoria again supported Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria through its Walk in the Park Program for blind and vision impaired visitors undertaking group bushwalks in selected parks. Group camps were also held at Wilsons Promontory National Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park

• Yarra Ranges National Park – a trial was initiated at selected sites in the park of a prototype accessible gate with a locking system for those walking paths that have entrance barriers installed to prevent dirt bike access. The gate allows visitors in wheelchairs to open the gate independently with a special key.

Visits to parks

Parks Victoria’s latest Visitor Number Monitor, conducted in 2016–17, estimated that there were 42.3 million visits made to national and state parks during that period. This is an 11.9 per cent increase on the number recorded in 2014–15. The monitor is a biennial survey covering a sample of Victorian, interstate and international visitors and will be conducted again in 2018–19.

There is evidence of increasing visitation to parks under the Act. For example:

• Port Campbell National Park – at the Twelve Apostles, there was an 8.5 per cent increase in visitors during the year and a 10 per cent increase during the Chinese New Year period compared to the same period last year

• Wilsons Promontory National Park – there was a record number of day visitors to the park during the summer peak period and the most visitors over the Labour Day and Easter weekends.



Licensed tour operators

Tour operators are licensed to run organised tours

public land. As at 30 June 2018 there were 496 operators licensed to operate in areas under the Act.

Informing, interpreting and educating

Information, interpretation and education services relating to areas under the Act were provided to encourage visits, manage risks, increase knowledge and understanding of parks and biodiversity, and encourage visitors to develop a stronger connection with the environment.

Information about parks continued to be provided to the public through Parks Victoria’s information service (13 1963), the Parks Victoria website, social media and the Park Notes and Visitor Guides.

Face-to-face interpretation activities were delivered to 22 144 adults and children in 43 parks under the Act. This included delivery to 10 051 students at 26 parks, and the delivery of Parks Victoria’s Junior Ranger Program to 8219 participants at 34 parks under the Act.

In January 2018 Coastcare Victoria’s annual coastal and marine activity program, Summer by the Sea, was again delivered as a partnership between Coastcare Victoria, Parks Victoria and Victorian Fisheries Authority. The program included activities in coastal and marine areas protected under the Act.

Junior Ranger Program

The introduction of new Community Engagement Ranger roles across the state has supported the growth of the Junior Ranger Program. Activities were

There was also further development of resources to support the Junior Ranger Program, including two new activity booklets themed around alpine and river environments, as well as an animation to attract new families and increase mailing list subscriptions.

There was also work on developing a new training manual to increase the interpretation skills of rangers involved in delivering activities.

Bush Kinder

During 2017–18 there were Bush Kinders operating in 12 parks managed under the Act, including Dandenong Ranges, Kinglake and Grampians national parks, Arthurs Seat and Warrandyte state parks, Nyah-Vinifera Park and Mushroom Reef and Rickets Point marine sanctuaries.

Volunteers

Volunteers from a wide range of partner organisations, as well as individuals, made an extremely important contribution to the management of many parks under the Act. They provided a diversity of services including research, natural values and cultural heritage restoration, visitor services, asset management and much more.

Organisations including Bushwalking Victoria, Four Wheel Drive Victoria and Friends groups contributed many hours of volunteer time. For example:

• the Land Rover Owners Club of Gippsland contributed more than 1000 hours to the Wonnangatta Icon Drive in the Alpine National Park

• the Hawkweed Eradication Program in the Alpine National Park involved 92 volunteers and contributed to the discovery and control of infestations of Orange, King devil and Mouse-ear hawkweeds.

The involvement of volunteers in citizen science continued to grow, with many important contributions across the state, including Sea Search and Reef Life Survey.

The Australian Deer Association and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) again provided valuable support for several projects relating to managing invasive species (see Managing invasive species).

Volunteers also contributed to programs designed to assist visitors in parks, such as the Campground Host, Four Wheel Drive Camp Host, Volunteer Sherpa and Volunteer Track Ranger programs.



Partnering with Traditional Owners

DELWP and Parks Victoria continued to work with Traditional Owners across the state to implement joint and co-operative management arrangements and to support the involvement of Traditional Owners in park management.

Joint management

As at 30 June 2018 there were joint management arrangements in relation to parks under the Act with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (north central Victoria), the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (Gippsland) and the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation (Barmah National Park).

Of particular note during the year was the considerable work associated with the preparation of management plans for the jointly managed parks. These cover 10 areas under the National Parks Act. The plans aim to enable the knowledge and culture of the Traditional Owners to be recognised and incorporated in the management of the various parks:

• the Dhelkunya Dja Traditional Owner Land

management plan which was released for public comment and includes four Dja Dja Wurrung jointly managed parks under the Act (Greater Bendigo and (most of) Kara Kara national parks and Kooyoora and Paddys Ranges state parks)

• the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land

release in 2018–19) the joint management plan that includes six Gunaikurnai jointly managed parks under the Act (Mitchell River, Tarra-Bulga, The Lakes and Snowy River (New Guinea Caves) national parks, Lake Tyers State Park and

such plan to be prepared in Victoria.

In addition to management planning, joint management arrangements included the following activities:

• Dja Dja Wurrung parks – there was a focus on the joint management employment program, including

– creating a new cultural heritage ranger position with responsibility for assessing cultural heritage in the jointly managed parks

– employing an archaeologist to provide advice and technical support to the ranger team

– enrolling two joint management rangers in an Aboriginal Heritage Management Course

– assessing cultural heritage sites

• Gunaikurnai parks – joint management activities, including

– the preparation of a geotechnical report and installation of protection measures at New Guinea Cave II (Snowy River National Park)

–and stories at Lake Tyers State Park.

Co-operative management

Parks Victoria continued to work cooperatively with the Budj Bim Council and the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in the management of Budj Bim National Park, and with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation in the management of Little Desert and Wyperfeld national parks, Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park and Lake Albacutya Park.

Other Traditional Owner partnerships

Parks Victoria continued to work closely with other Traditional Owner groups across the state to manage cultural landscapes and on several priority Aboriginal cultural heritage conservation projects focusing on protecting ancestral burial sites and conserving rock art (see Managing Aboriginal heritage).

Strategic discussions continued between the state and the Gariwerd Native Title Claim Group (which includes Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Gunditj Mirring and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporations) in relation to an area that includes the Grampians National Park and Black Range State Park.

There were also negotiations with the Eastern Maar, Gunditjmara, Taungurung, Wathaurong and

recognition and settlement agreements under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, which cover various national and other parks under the Act.



Supporting park management

Management arrangements

The Secretary is responsible under the Act for ensuring that the parks and other areas to which the Act applies are controlled and managed in accordance with the Act.

Parks Victoria, established under the Parks Victoria Act 1998, is responsible through a management agreement for managing the parks and other areas under the Act on behalf of the Secretary. Various powers under the Act have been delegated to employees of Parks Victoria.

DELWP, on behalf of the Secretary, works with Parks Victoria and provides strategic policy advice to the Minister and the Secretary. Under the Act, the Director of National Parks (who is the chief executive

Minister and the Secretary on the operational elements of park management.

occur on 12 September 2018 as a result of the commencement of the Parks Victoria Act 2018 (see Legislation).

Parks Victoria’s 2017–18 business plan sets out the management services and strategic priorities to be delivered for the year. Its annual report contains information on the organisation and its operations for the year. DELWP and other organisations also contributed to the parks program during the year.

Legislation

Amendments to the Act

Victorian Fisheries Authority Act 2016

appointed under the Victorian Fisheries Act as an

to assist in enforcement operations in parks.

Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017

This new Act aims to enhance the strategic planning and management of the Yarra River and certain land in its vicinity. On 1 December 2017 this Act amended the National Parks Act to specify the obligations of the Secretary in relation to Yarra River land and when preparing a management plan for a park that forms part of Yarra River land.

Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Act 2017

On 15 December 2017 this amending Act amended the National Parks Act to:

• add 6332 hectares of the Anglesea Heath to the Great Otway National Park, with provision for a further 88 hectares to be added after Alcoa surrenders a further part of its lease

• alter the boundaries of Croajingolong and Greater Bendigo national parks, Warrandyte State Park and Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park (see Changes to areas managed under the Act) and correct the boundaries of Lower Goulburn National Park and Warrandyte State Park

• change the name of Mount Eccles National Park to Budj Bim National Park

• remove the Secretary or nominee and the Director

Parks Victoria) from membership of the National Parks Advisory Council

• streamline the provisions relating to the payment of sitting fees and/or allowances to the National Parks Advisory Council and park advisory committees.

Parks Victoria Act 2018

This Act was introduced into Parliament on 20 February 2018 and received Royal Assent on 5 June 2018. It comes into operation on 12 September 2018. It re-establishes Parks Victoria as a strengthened and more independent park management agency with

management powers and responsibilities. There will no longer be a management agreement between the Secretary and Parks Victoria.

The new Act contains several tools to assist Parks Victoria’s management of parks and reserves, including:

• requiring Parks Victoria to prepare a statewide land management strategy that sets out the general long-term directions, strategies and priorities for the protection, management and use of the land it manages – this will include the areas managed under the National Parks Act and must be consistent with that Act

• enabling Parks Victoria to prepare land management plans for the land it manages which may cover more than one park or reserve – the preparation of such plans will, if applicable, be considered to have met the requirement to prepare a management plan under the National Parks Act.



The Act makes many consequential amendments to the National Parks Act, including:

• making Parks Victoria, instead of the Secretary, responsible for the control and management of parks under the National Parks Act and carrying out various functions or powers

• repealing the provisions relating to park advisory committees and the Alpine Advisory Committee (Parks Victoria will be able to establish advisory committees as necessary under the Parks Victoria Act)

• enabling the Minister to gazette certain works or classes of permanent works which do not require ministerial approval

• updating the references to the former Warby Range State Park (now part of Warby-Ovens National Park) as a park where the searching for gemstones may be permitted

• repealing several redundant provisions.

Authorities under the Act

Leases, licences and other authorities

In relation to leases and licences granted under the Act:

• Croajingolong National Park – the lease held by KRR Services Pty Ltd under section 19G of the Act for the operation and management of the Thurra River and Mueller Inlet campgrounds was surrendered and the sites vacated effective 30 April 2018

• Mornington Peninsula National Park – a three-year licence was granted under section 19K of the Act to Portsea Surf Life Saving Club Inc for the construction of an access road and installation of services as part of the redevelopment of its clubrooms that are subject to a lease.

The following agreements were progressed to facilitate the Haining Farm Concept Plan:

• a deed of surrender of the Sharefarm Agreement to cease farming activities at Haining Farm

• a new 12-month licence under section 26A of the Act over parts of Haining Farm for grazing purposes and a residence.

Table 4 lists permits granted under section 21(1)(c)(ii) of the Act in relation to carrying out particular businesses.

Other authorities granted under the Act or the

and photography (section 21(1)), tour operator licences (section 27D) (see Enhancing visitor enjoyment and tourism), authorisations in relation

Cape Howe Marine National Park (section 45A(4A) and event permits. Bee site licences are now granted under the Land Act 1958 in relation to parks.

Consents to public authorities

Table 5 lists the consents granted under section 27 of

carry out works, subject to conditions, in various parks.

Authorisation to hunt deer

On 7 March 2018 an authorisation of the Secretary was published in the Government Gazette authorising

other weapons (bows and cross bows) in the course of hunting deer by stalking in the Avon Wilderness Park,

Baw Baw national parks. This authorisation also repealed previous notices applying to those parks.

Enforcement

There were 13 individuals successfully prosecuted during the year for committing offences under the Act (11) or the Regulations (15).1 Most of the offences related to carrying or possessing a gun or other weapon (9) or to dogs (6).

There were 105 infringement notices issued during the year in relation to prescribed offences against the Act or the Regulations. These included offences relating to dogs (40), camping outside an area set aside or an occupation site (17), lighting or

marine sanctuary (6).

issued in relation to offences under the Act or the Regulations.

1 The numbers refer to prosecutions during the year for which successful results were obtained regardless of when the offences took place.



Table 4 – Permits

Park Permittee Purpose

Dandenong Ranges, Great Otway, Mornington Peninsula, Mount Buffalo and Yarra Ranges NPs

Bay of Islands, Cape Liptrap and Discovery Bay CPs

Hang Gliding Federation of Australia and Victorian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

Use and maintain hang gliding and paragliding sites

Baw Baw NP Individual Mobile food van

Dandenong Ranges NPKnoxbrooke Incorporated

Training and skills courses at Tyson’s House and adjacent greenhouses

Yarra Ranges NP Individuals (2)Mobile food van and toboggan hire

Mobile food van

Cape Conran CP Individuals (2) Mobile food van

CP Coastal ParkNP National Park

Table 5 – Consents to public authorities

Park Public authority Purpose

Great Otway NP NBN Corporation LtdBroadband Network.

Kinglake NPMurrindindi Shire Council Thomson Reserve.

Lake Eildon NPGoulburn-Murray Region Water Corporation

Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection.

Mornington Peninsula NPSouth East Water Corporation

Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection to public toilets at Sorrento.

Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection to public toilets at Koonya, Portsea and Rye.

Yarra Ranges NPYarra Ranges Shire Council

Arthurs Seat SPSouth East Water Corporation

Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection as part of Arthurs Seat Skylift development.

Install new sewerage infrastructure and connection to Summit public toilets.

Bunyip SPAusNet Electricity Service Pty Ltd

Install underground powerlines to replace existing above ground powerlines.

Mount Granya SP Telstra Corporation Ltd Install telecommunications equipment.

Warrandyte SP Manningham City Council Operate a public listening post at Whipstick Gully.

Woodlands HPOptus Fixed Infrastructure Pty Ltd

HP Historic ParkNP National ParkSP State Park



Interstate cooperation

Australian Alps Cooperative Management Program

The Memorandum of understanding in relation to the cooperative management of the Australian Alps national parks (the MOU) covers – in Victoria – the Alpine, Baw Baw, Mount Buffalo and Snowy River national parks and the Avon Wilderness Park.

The purpose of the MOU is to promote cross-border cooperation in the protection and management of this

involved in the MOU are Parks Victoria, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy.

Several workshops and forums were held during the year, including a Volunteer Co-ordinators Forum, an Iconic Walks Summit, an Australian Alps Science Management Forum and an Australian Alps cycling track scoping workshop.

mountain catchments and ecosystems across the Alps included:

• a pre-eminent alpine ecologist (Year 1 of 2)

• training dogs to detect hawkweeds in the landscape and incorporating them into an integrated invasive species program (Year 2 of 2)

• monitoring sambar deer using GPS collars to uncover the secrets of this highly damaging pest species (Year 1 of 3)

• quantitatively assessing the abundance of feral horses

• using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle assessment of feral horse impact on streambanks and wetlands (Year 2 of 3)

• recording the stories of Aboriginal people with connection to the Alps

• a visual ecology communications project (an art/science partnership).

Advisory bodies

National Parks Advisory Council

The National Parks Advisory Council is appointed under section 10 of the Act. Its main functions are to advise the Minister generally in relation to the administration of the Act and on particular matters in relation to which its advice is required under the Act or is sought by the Minister.

On 15 December 2017 the Act was amended to remove the Secretary (or his or her nominee) and the Director of National Parks (the Chief Executive

the council. The council now comprises eight non-government members. As at 30 June 2018 the members were:

Convenor: Mr Doug Humann AM

Members: Associate Professor Ursula De Jong Ms Judith Dixon Mr Michael Fendley Ms Anna Foley Mr Adam McLean Dr Mary-Jane Rogers Mr Chris Rose.

The council’s annual report for 2017–18 provides information on the council and its activities during the year.

There were also several non-statutory advisory groups which provided advice on the management of various parks.



A National parks (Schedule Two)

National parkArea (ha)

30 June 2017Addition

(ha)Excision

(ha)Area (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Alfred 3 050 3 050

2 Alpine 661 777 661 777

3 Barmah 28 505 28 505

4 Baw Baw 13 530 13 530

5 Brisbane Ranges 8 885 8 885

6 Budj Bim# 8 565 8 565

7 Burrowa-Pine Mountain 18 400 18 400

8 Chiltern-Mt Pilot 21 650 21 650

9 Churchill 271 271

10 Cobboboonee 18 510 18 510

11 Coopracambra 38 800 38 800

12 Croajingolong *88 500 27 *88 525

13 Dandenong Ranges 3 535 3 535

14 Errinundra 39 870 39 870

15 French Island *11 160 *11 160

16 Grampians 168 235 168 235

17 Greater Bendigo** 17 324 0.36 0.14 17 324

18 Great Otway *104 015 6 332 ^*110 332

19 Gunbower 9 330 9 330

20 Hattah-Kulkyne 49 975 49 975

21 Heathcote-Graytown 12 700 12 700

22 Kara Kara 13 990 13 990

23 Kinglake 23 210 23 210

24 Lake Eildon 27 750 27 750

25 Lind 1 370 1 370

26 Little Desert 132 647 132 647

27 Lower Glenelg 26 430 26 430

28 Lower Goulburn 9 320 9 320

29 Mitchell River 14 395 14 395

30 Mornington Peninsula *2 680 *2 680

31 Morwell 565 565

32 Mount Buffalo 31 020 31 020

33 Mount Richmond 1 733 1 733

34 Murray-Sunset 665 400 665 400

Appendix 1 Areas managed under the National Parks Act



National parkArea (ha)


(ha)Excision

(ha)Area (ha)

30 June 2018

35 Organ Pipes 153 153

36 Point Nepean *578 *578

37 Port Campbell *1 830 *1 830

38 Snowy River 114 600 114 600

39 Tarra-Bulga 2 015 2 015

40 Terrick Terrick 6 390 6 390

41 The Lakes 2 390 2 390

42 Warby-Ovens 14 750 14 750

43 Wilsons Promontory *49 049 *49 049

44 Wyperfeld 359 445 359 445

45 Yarra Ranges 77 185 77 185

Total – National parks 2 905 482 2 911 824

# Formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park.* Area includes the area of the national park located beneath a marine national park.** Parts of Greater Bendigo NP extend only to 100 metres below the land surface.^ Area of park re-calculated.

B Wilderness parks (Schedule Two A)

Wilderness parkArea (ha)

30 June 2017Area (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Avon 39 650 39 650

2 Big Desert 142 300 142 300

3 Wabba 20 100 20 100

Total – Wilderness parks 202 050 202 050



C State parks (Schedule Two B)

State parkArea (ha)


(ha)Excision

(ha)Area (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Arthurs Seat 565 565

2 Black Range 11 700 11 700

3 Broken-Boosey 1 010 1 010

4 Bunyip 16 655 16 655

5 Cape Nelson 210 210

6 Cathedral Range 3 616 3 616

7 Dergholm 10 400 10 400

8 4 400 4 400

9 Holey Plains 10 740 10 740

10 Kooyoora 11 350 11 350

11 Lake Tyers 8 680 8 680

12 Langi Ghiran 3 040 3 040

13 Leaghur 2 050 2 050

14 Lerderderg 20 185 20 185

15 Moondarra 6 330 6 330

16 Mount Arapiles-Tooan 7 470 7 470

17 Mount Buangor 2 400 2 400

18 Mount Granya 6 140 6 140

19 Mount Lawson 13 150 13 150

20 Mount Napier 2 800 2 800

21 Mount Samaria 7 600 7 600

22 Mount Worth 1 040 1 040

23 Paddys Ranges 2 010 2 010

24 Reef Hills 2 020 2 020

25 Warrandyte 693 0.03 0.02 *689

26 Werribee Gorge 575 575

Total – State parks 156 829 156 825



D Other parks (Schedule Three)

Other parkArea (ha)


30 June 2018

1 Bay of Islands CP 950 950

2 Beechworth HP 1 090 1 090

3 Cape Conran CP 11 700 11 700

4 Cape Liptrap CP 4 320 4 320

5 Discovery Bay CP *10 460 *10 460

6 Gadsen Bend Park 1 620 1 620

7 Gippsland Lakes CP 17 688 17 688

8 Haining Farm 66 66

9 Kings Billabong Park 2 195 2 195

10 Lake Albacutya Park 8 300 8 300

11 Langwarrin FFR 214 214

12 1 397 1 397

13 Murray-Kulkyne Park 4 555 4 555

14 Nyah-Vinifera Park 1 370 1 370

15 Steiglitz HP 430 430

16 Tara Range Park 7 620 7 620

17 Tyers Park 1 810 1 810

18 Woodlands HP 820 820

Total – Other parks 76 605 76 605

CP Coastal ParkFFR Flora and Fauna ReserveHP Historic Park* Area includes the area of the park located beneath a marine national park.



E Other parks and reserves (Schedule Four)

Other park or reserveArea (ha)


(ha)Area (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Bunurong MP *1 660 *1 660

2 Castlemaine Diggings NHP** 7 585 1.66 ^7 590

3 Corner Inlet MCP *18 000 *18 000

4 Deep Lead NCR (No. 1)** 1 120 1 120

5 Nooramunga MCP 15 000 15 000

6 Shallow Inlet MCP 2 000 2 000

7 Wilsons Promontory MP )*10 000 *10 000

8 Wilsons Promontory MR )

Total – Other parks and reserves 55 365 1.66 55 370

MCP Marine and Coastal ParkMP Marine ParkMR Marine ReserveNCR Nature Conservation ReserveNHP National Heritage Park* Area includes the area of the park or reserve located beneath a marine national park.** Castlemaine Diggings NHP and Deep Lead NCR (No. 1) extend only to 100 metres below the land surface.^ Area of park re-calculated and rounded up.



F Wilderness zones (Schedule Five)

Wilderness zones are located within several national parks, as set out below. The areas of the wilderness zones are included in the areas of the relevant parks in Part A of this appendix. There were no changes to the wilderness zones during the year.

National park Wilderness zoneArea (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Alpine Mount Darling-Snowy Bluff 40 400

2 Alpine Razor-Viking 15 700

3 Alpine Indi 13 800

4 Alpine Cobberas 10 000

5 Alpine Buchan Headwaters 30 000

6 Alpine Tingaringy 7 900

7 Coopracambra Genoa 19 400

8 Croajingolong Sandpatch 15 600

9 Croajingolong Cape Howe 7 100

10 Murray-Sunset Sunset 126 900

11 Murray-Sunset Minook 38 700

12 Murray-Sunset Galpunga 35 700

13 Murray-Sunset Mount Cowra 23 500

14 Snowy River Snowy River 27 000

15 Snowy River Bowen 17 500

16 Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory 21 800

17 Wyperfeld North Wyperfeld 97 900

18 Wyperfeld South Wyperfeld 61 300

19 Wyperfeld Chinaman Flat 29 800

Total – Wilderness zones 640 000



G Remote and natural areas (Schedule Six)

Remote and natural areas are located within several national parks, as set out below. The areas of the remote and natural areas are included in the areas of the relevant parks in Part A of this appendix. There were no changes to the remote and natural areas during the year.

National park Remote and natural areaArea (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Alpine The Governors 8 100

2 Alpine Macalister 33 300

3 Alpine Dandongadale 3 700

4 Alpine Bundara-Cobungra 13 700

5 Alpine Bogong 16 300

6 Alpine Davies Plain 10 500

7 Alpine Suggan Buggan 17 800

8 Alpine Upper Snowy 11 800

9 Baw Baw Baw Baw Plateau 6 500

10 Burrowa-Pine Mountain Mount Burrowa 6 200

11 Coopracambra Mount Kaye 8 100

12 Croajingolong Rame Head 9 800

13 Errinundra Brodribb 7 700

14 Grampians Victoria Range 14 000

15 Grampians Serra Range 11 200

16 Grampians Major Mitchell Plateau 6 900

17 Little Desert Little Desert 16 400

18 Mount Buffalo North Buffalo 6 500

19 Murray-Sunset South Sunset 24 000

20 Wilsons Promontory Wilsons Promontory Islands (12) 469

21 Wilsons Promontory Southern Wilsons Promontory 14 400

22 Wyperfeld Hopping Mouse Hill 32 100

Total – Remote and natural areas 279 469



H Marine national parks (Schedule Seven)

There were no changes to the marine national parks during the year.

Marine national park*Area (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Bunurong 2 100

2 Cape Howe 4 050

3 Churchill Island 670

4 Corner Inlet 1 550

5 Discovery Bay 2 770

6 French Island 2 800

7 Ninety Mile Beach 2 750

8 Point Addis 4 600

9 Point Hicks 4 000

10 Port Phillip Heads 3 580

11 Twelve Apostles 7 500

12 Wilsons Promontory 15 550

13 Yaringa 980

Total – Marine national parks 52 900

* Marine national parks extend only to 200 metres below the land surface. Some partly overlay parts of other parks under the Act.

I Marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight)

There were no changes to the marine sanctuaries during the year.

Marine sanctuaryArea (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Barwon Bluff 17

2 Beware Reef 220

3 Eagle Rock 17

4 Jawbone 30

5 Marengo Reefs 12

6 Merri 25

7 Mushroom Reef 80

8 Point Cooke 290

9 Point Danger 25

10 Ricketts Point 115

11 The Arches 45

Total – Marine sanctuaries 876



J Other areas (non-scheduled)*

There were no changes to the non-scheduled areas during the year.

Area Section of ActArea (ha)

30 June 2018

1 Bald Hills BR 19B 1

2 Collins Settlement Historic Site 19B 1

3 Flinders NCR 19B 1

4 Flinders Natural Interest Reserve 19B 4

5 Long Forest NCR 19B 283

6 Lower Glenelg PPR and SLR 19B 24

7 Main Ridge NCR 19B 64

8 Moreep BR 19B 10

9 Nyerimilang Park 19B 200

10 Wychitella NCR 19B 3 780

11 Mt St Gwinear access road 19C 35

12 Commonwealth land adjacent to Woodlands Historic Park 19D 31

13 Picnic area at McKenzie’s Flat (Lerderderg State Park) 19E #

14 Blackwood Ranges Track (Lerderderg State Park) 19E #

15 Glenample Homestead 32AA 8

Total – Other areas 4 442

NCR Nature Conservation Reserve # Area approximately 0.1 ha.PPR Public Purposes ReserveSLR Scenic Lookout Reserve



K Summary – areas managed under the Act

CategoryNo. of areas



30 June 2018

A National parks (Schedule Two) 45 2 905 482 2 911 824

B Wilderness parks (Schedule Two A) 3 202 050 202 050

C State parks (Schedule Two B) 26 156 829 156 825

D Other parks (Schedule Three) 18 76 605 76 605

E Other parks and reserves (Schedule Four) 8 55 365 55 370

H Marine national parks (Schedule Seven) 13 52 900 52 900

I Marine sanctuaries (Schedule Eight) 11 876 876

J Other areas (non-scheduled) 15 4 442 4 442

Total 139 3 454 549 3 460 892

L Unproclaimed additions

As at 30 June 2018 the following legislation provides for future additions to the parks system.

Act Provision of Act Park Area (ha)

1 National Parks Act 1975 50K Greater Bendigo National Park *16

2 National Parks Act 1975 78 Greater Bendigo National Park *245

3 National Parks Act 1975 79 Great Otway National Park *88

4 National Parks Act 1975 Schedule One AA clause 20

Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park *2

5 National Parks (Amendment) Act 1989 29(3) Moondarra State Park 178

Total – unproclaimed areas 529

* Area will become part of the park on surrender of the title or lease to the Crown.



National and other parks and areas

1 Murray-Sunset NP2 Hattah-Kulkyne NP3 Murray-Kulkyne Park4 Big Desert WP5 Wyperfeld NP6 Lake Albacutya Park7 Little Desert NP8 Mount Arapiles-Tooan SP9 Dergholm SP10 Black Range SP11 Grampians NP12 Deep Lead NCR (No. 1)13 Lower Glenelg NP and

Cobboboonee NP14 Discovery Bay CP15 Lower Glenelg PPR and SLR16 Mount Richmond NP17 Cape Nelson SP18 Budj Bim NP19 Mount Napier SP20 Langi Ghiran SP21 Mount Buangor SP22 Paddys Ranges SP23 Kara Kara NP24 Kooyoora SP25 Wychitella NCR26 Leaghur SP27 Terrick Terrick NP28 Greater Bendigo NP29 Heathcote-Graytown NP30 Castlemaine Diggings NHP31 Lerderderg SP and

associated leased areas32 Long Forest NCR33 Werribee Gorge SP

35 Moreep BR36 Brisbane Ranges NP37 Steiglitz HP38 Bay of Islands CP 39 Port Campbell NP40 Glenample Homestead41 Tara Range Park42 Great Otway NP43 Point Nepean NP44 Collins Settlement HS

45 Mornington Peninsula NP46 Arthurs Seat SP47 Main Ridge NCR48 Bald Hills BR49 Flinders NCR50 Flinders NIR51 French Island NP52 Langwarrin FFR53 Churchill NP

55 Bunyip SP56 Dandenong Ranges NP57 Warrandyte SP58 Organ Pipes NP59 Woodlands HP and adjacent

Commonwealth land60 Kinglake NP61 Haining Farm62 Yarra Ranges NP63 Cathedral Range SP64 Lake Eildon NP65 Mount Samaria SP66 Reef Hills SP67 Broken-Boosey SP68 Barmah NP69 Warby-Ovens NP70 Chiltern-Mt Pilot NP71 Beechworth HP72 Mount Granya SP73 Mount Lawson SP74 Burrowa-Pine Mountain NP75 Wabba WP76 Mount Buffalo NP77 Alpine NP78 Avon WP79 Baw Baw NP and

Mt St Gwinear access road80 Moondarra SP81 Tyers Park82 Mount Worth SP83 Bunurong MP84 Cape Liptrap CP85 Shallow Inlet MCP86 Wilsons Promontory NP 87 Wilsons Promontory MP88 Wilsons Promontory MR89 Corner Inlet MCP90 Nooramunga MCP

91 Tarra-Bulga NP92 Morwell NP93 Holey Plains SP94 Gippsland Lakes CP95 The Lakes NP96 Mitchell River NP97 Nyerimilang Park98 Snowy River NP99 Errinundra NP100 Coopracambra NP101 Lind NP102 Alfred NP103 Cape Conran CP104 Croajingolong NP105 Kings Billabong Park106 Gadsen Bend Park107 Nyah-Vinifera Park108 Gunbower NP109 Lower Goulburn NP 110 Lake Tyers SP

Marine national parks and marine sanctuaries

A Discovery Bay MNPB Merri MSC The Arches MSD Twelve Apostles MNPE Marengo Reefs MSF Eagle Rock MSG Point Addis MNPH Point Danger MSI Barwon Bluff MSJ Port Phillip Heads MNPK Point Cooke MSL Jawbone MSM Ricketts Point MSN Mushroom Reef MSO Yaringa MNPP French Island MNPQ Churchill Island MNPR Bunurong MNPS Wilsons Promontory MNPT Corner Inlet MNPU Ninety Mile Beach MNPV Beware Reef MSW Point Hicks MNPX Cape Howe MNP BR Bushland ReserveCP Coastal Park

FFR Flora and Fauna Reserve HP Historic ParkHS Historic SiteMCP Marine and Coastal ParkMNP Marine National ParkMP Marine Park

MR Marine ReserveMS Marine SanctuaryNCR Nature Conservation ReserveNHP National Heritage ParkNIR Natural Interest ReserveNP National Park

PPR Public Purposes Reserve SLR Scenic Lookout Reserve SP State ParkWP Wilderness Park

Appendix 2 Location of parks and other areas



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delwp.vic.gov.au

Documents

National Parks Act - Parliament of Victoria · 4 National Parks Act Annual Report 2018 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Management and other planning As at 30 June