SW Mngt Plan - Open House Findings Report July 2012 _final_

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Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara

SOUTH WEST MANAGEMENT PLAN

Open House Findings Report

July 2012

Open House Findings Report ‐ July 2012 by Insight Communications 1

Prepared by: Rachel Donovan Insight Communications PO Box 177 Camperdown VIC 3260 [email protected] Ph 03 55931766


TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

2. INTRODUCTION 6

3. OPEN HOUSE FORMAT 7

4. FINDINGS FROM OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES 11

5. TOPLINE FINDINGS BY OPEN HOUSE LOCATION 15

6. TOPLINE FINDINGS FROM OPEN HOUSES BY THEME 19

7. DETAILED SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 25

APPENDIX 1: PARTICIPANTS 51

APPENDIX 2: STATION LEADERS 55

APPENDIX 3: STATION LEADER RESPONSE SHEET 56

APPENDIX 4: COMMUNITY SURVEY FORM 57

APPENDIX 5: SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY SURVEY RESPONSES 59


1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Plan The preparation of the Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara South West Management Plan is the first time in Victoria that a management plan will incorporate parks, reserves, forest parks and Indigenous protected areas across a large area. The plan will include land and marine areas managed by Parks Victoria, the Department of Sustainability & Environment (DSE) and Traditional Owners through the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (TOAC) and Budj Bim Council in South West Victoria. It will take an integrated planning approach, incorporating Gunditjmara cultural values into planning and management. The planning area includes:

• The National Heritage listed Budj Bim landscape comprising Budj Bim - Mount Eccles National Park, and eight Gunditjmara owned freehold properties;

• Lower Glenelg, Mount Richmond and Cobboboonee National Parks;

• Cape Nelson, Dergholm and Mount Napier State Parks;

• Discovery Bay Coastal Park;

• Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve;

• Discovery Bay Marine National Park;

• Cobboboonee Forest Park

• Crawford River Regional Park

• 22 Nature Conservation Reserves, 106 Natural Features Reserves, and Portland North Cemetery Historic Area;

The parks reserves and Indigenous freehold lands total 107,909ha.

Open Houses As part of the early stages of the planning process, a series of Open House sessions were held to engage with communities in the planning area to identify their perceptions of key management issues and suggested practices. A range of discussion papers and fact sheets that summarised key issues and research were made available to the public in the months prior to the sessions.


Insight Communications was engaged to facilitate these sessions in association with the participating management agencies. Session were held in:

• Macarthur 17 April 2012 • Portland 18 April 2012 • Heywood 19 April 2012 • Casterton 30 April 2012 and • Nelson 1 May 2012

The sessions provided a range of opportunities for participants to express their views and find out more about management of the planning area, including themed stations where participants could talk directly with agency staff and Gunditjmara community members, a community survey, graffiti wall and Vision board. The sessions were held from 2.00-4.00pm and 7.00-9.00pm each day and were attended by approximately 100 members of the community.

Location No. of community members in attendance

Macarthur 15

Portland 22

Heywood 28

Casterton 15

Nelson 20

TOTAL 100 people

Topline Findings in the Planning Area The top 5 most frequently raised issues within the planning area (in order of priority) were: 1. Fuel reduction burns and their negative impacts on the biodiversity and populations of

wildlife and flora.

2. Improving access to sites, information and experiences of Gunditjmara culture and visitor facilities in Mount Eccles National Park and Lake Condah.

3. Maintaining and improving horse riding access in parks and reserves, especially in the Cobboboonee National Park and Forest Park.

4. Support for the name change of Mount Eccles National Park to Budj Bim National Park.

5. Improving the management of weeds.

Topline Findings by Location Macarthur • Improving access to sites, information and experiences of Gunditjmara culture, and

visitor facilities in Mount Eccles National Park and Lake Condah.

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


Portland • Fuel reduction burns and their negative impacts on the biodiversity and populations of

wildlife and flora. Heywood • Maintaining and improving horse riding access in parks and reserves, especially in the

Cobboboonee National Park and Forest Park.

• Fuel reduction burns and their negative impacts on the biodiversity and populations of wildlife and flora.

Casterton • Valuing of the diversity of birdlife and other fauna and the need to maintain habitat.

• Improving the management of weeds and feral animals. Nelson • Impact of Coastal Wattle and rabbits and other feral species on habitat in Discovery Bay

/ Glenelg River / Nelson area.

• Improving access to the banks of the Glenelg River and linkages with other recreation facilities.

Please note that important issues were often raised by small numbers of people that were not necessarily recognised as the most significant issues by the majority of participants.


2. INTRODUCTION The Plan Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Gunditjmara Traditional Owners through the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (TOAC) and Budj Bim Council in South West Victoria are undertaking a major planning project within the Gunditj Mirring TOAC Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) Area. The project is designed to provide strategic direction for the future management of protected areas, Gunditjmara Traditional Owners’ community owned properties and Indigenous Protected Areas.

The planning area includes:

• The National Heritage listed Budj Bim landscape comprising Budj Bim - Mt Eccles National Park, and eight Gunditjmara owned freehold properties;

• Lower Glenelg, Mount Richmond and Cobboboonee National Parks;

• Cape Nelson, Dergholm and Mount Napier State Parks;

• Discovery Bay Coastal Park;

• Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve;

• Discovery Bay Marine National Park;

• Cobboboonee Forest Park

• Crawford River Regional Park

• 22 Nature Conservation Reserves, 106 Natural Features Reserves, and Portland North Cemetery Historic Area;

The parks reserves and Indigenous freehold lands total 107,909ha. The ‘Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara’ South West Management Plan project will see the implementation of a planning approach that will integrate natural values and cultural values management, recreation management and tourism management across the planning area. Open Houses As an early step in the development of the management plan, the Project Team sought input from the community about how the planning area should be managed through a series of Open House sessions. Parks Victoria appointed Insight Communications to organise and facilitate these sessions which were conducted in Macarthur (17 April), Portland (18 April), Heywood (19 April), Casterton (30 April) and Nelson (1 May). The sessions provided a range of opportunities for participants to express their views and find out more about management of the planning area, including themed stations where participants could talk directly with agency staff and Gunditjmara community members, a feedback survey, graffiti wall and Vision board. The sessions were held from 2.00-4.00pm and 7.00-9.00pm each day and were attended by approximately 100 members of the community.


3. OPEN HOUSE FORMAT 3.1 Purpose

The purpose of the Open House sessions was to provide members of the community with opportunities to find out more about the management plan, and to contribute their ideas about the most effective and appropriate management strategies for the planning area. 3.2 Session Details

Macarthur - Tuesday17th April

Mechanics Institute, Main Street

Portland - Wednesday18th April

Sandilands Reception Centre,

33 Percy St, Portland

Heywood - Thursday 19th April Heywood Customer Service Centre (old library section),

Main Street, Heywood

Casterton - Monday 30th April

Town Hall

Main Street, Casterton

Nelson - Tuesday1st May Nelson Community House,

Leake Street, next to Visitor Information Centre

Venues were selected on the basis of: • Preference for easy-to-find, high profile location • Capacity to accommodate all activities • Preference for an area that is spacious but not too large • Preference for disabled access to/within building and toilets • Suitable number of chairs and tables and a kitchenette 3.3 Session Format Open House activities were designed to cater for the following potential characteristics of participants to encourage a range of community members to attend. These characteristics had implications on the scheduling and design of the sessions: • Work commitments, including farmers working until 6-6.30pm. • Childcare commitments during the day or post-school hours • Time available to participate • Variety of ages • Preference for written, visual or verbal forms of communication • Preference to contribute via computer • Preference for interaction with people / authority figures • Physical ability (i.e. ensure accessibility to buildings, session spaces and toilets) Community members were invited to move around the Open House and choose which activities they wanted to engage in. They could stay for as long or as little time as they liked.


The following activities were available at each Open House:

a. The Welcome Desk was the first activity encountered by visitors to the Open Houses where they registered their names, collected discussion papers, fact sheets and a community survey, and found out how the Open Houses worked (received a verbal explanation, collected venue map, etc). It was also the drop-off point for completed surveys.

b. An Orientation Powerpoint (on a loop) was located near the Welcome Desk

which outlined information about the landscape planning process and how the Open House session worked.

c. 5-6 Staffed Stations were

available to provide opportunities for participants to talk to a staff member of a relevant agency or a member of the Gunditjmara community about specific topics (feedback and / or questions). There were usually two Station Leaders at each desk wearing casual clothes and name tags rather than uniforms. Station Leaders took notes on a Response Sheet about the conversations held with community members. This information was used in the preparation of this report.

Topics for each station were grouped as follows:

1. What you can do in the parks and where you can do it (encompassing The Visitor Experience, Sustainable Tourism, Recreation Activities, Roads and Access)

2. The country, how it is managed and why, and how you can help (encompassing Natural Values, Invasive Species, Water and Catchments, Climate Change)

3. Community connections with the land - past, present and future (encompassing Gunditjmara Cultural Values, Cultural Heritage / Cultural Landscape, Renaming of Mt Eccles National Park to Budj Bim National Park, except in Macarthur)

4. Managing fire to protect life, property and the area’s ecology (encompassing Fire Management)

5. Renaming of Mt Eccles National Park as Budj Bim National Park (separate station for Macarthur only as the renaming most directly affects this area)

6. Valued Places was staffed by Context Pty Ltd as part of a project that will feed into the Management Plan.

At least one senior member of the Gunditjmara community and Parks Victoria were available at each session.

d. Community Survey was a double-sided A4 sheet that asked a range of open

ended and ratings questions. It was designed to be simple and easy to complete. There were 144 questions in total identified in the Discussion Papers so it was decided this was too complex to attempt to capture in a survey. People who


wanted to respond to questions raised in the papers could also make a more detailed submission. See Appendix 4 for a copy of the survey.

e. Graffiti Wall provided an opportunity for people to comment in an illustrative /

visual / written form in preference to a more formal response.

f. ‘Café’ encouraged participants to mingle and talk to others and attain refreshments

(tea / coffee / biscuits). It was also a space for reflection and completion of the feedback survey.

g. Parkweb online gave participants the opportunity to provide feedback via a laptop.

h. Vision station allowed participants to comment on the draft Vision using a

flipchart and A-frame board.

i. ‘Sense of Place’ DVD station screened personal stories about several Victorian people’s connections to sites in the landscapes.

j. Maps - the following maps were available to assist Station Leaders with discussions:

• AO laminated map of planning area • A3 laminated maps of 4 countries • AO laminated map of the ecosystem • Unlaminated maps of the planning area and 4 countries that participants could

write on. k. Children’s Corner was available to keep children entertained and to identify what

they valued about their parks. It included drawing and craft materials and puzzles. Short briefings of Station Leaders were held at the start of the first session on each day to introduce leaders to the Open House process. A quick briefing was also held between sessions to discuss key issues identified by participants and to check if any changes to the venue layout were needed.


3.4 Facilitator’s Role The roles of the facilitator were to: • Brief Station Leaders. • Direct participants to the relevant station for input / further information. • Encourage people to participate in different session activities rather than stand in a

queue at a station. • Encourage people to provide feedback using other opportunities if they were remaining

at a station for a long time and there was a queue of people. • Be available to work with Station Leaders to respond to contentious issues if required. • Answer questions about how the session worked / supervise. 3.5 External Signage It was important to ensure that the Open House venues were clearly visible from the street. Signage included: • ‘Welcome’ and ‘name of event’ signage

and session times (A-frame boards inside and outside building)

• PV / DSE / Gunditj Mirring TOAC / Budj Bim Council corporate banners and flags at the entry to the venue

3.6 Information Available Pre-sessions Discussion papers (13 papers on various topics) and fact sheets (8 sheets), which summarised existing research, regulations and concerns related to the planning area, were made available to community members from 8th March via Parkweb. They were promoted through the activities listed in section 3.7 below. People could respond to these papers at the Open Houses or discuss their own concerns and ideas. 3.7 Promotion of sessions

Promotion of the Open House sessions began on 8th March 2012 with the distribution of a media release to all local media. Several local papers and a radio station ran articles. Public notices were also printed on:

Date Media

Macarthur Newsletter – Macarthur session only

23 March 4, 6, 13 April

Portland Observer – All sessions

12, 14 April Hamilton Spectator All sessions

28 March, 11 April Casterton News – All sessions 25 April Casterton News – Casterton date only 28 March, 4 April, 11 April Weekly Times – All sessions 29 March, 5 April and 12 April Stock and Land – All sessions


4. FINDINGS FROM OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES 4.1. Attendance

Location No. of community members

in attendance

Macarthur 15

Portland 22 Heywood 28

Casterton 15 Nelson 20 TOTAL 100 people Not all participants at the Open Houses registered their attendance. To account for this, a conservative 15% has been added to the registration figures. There was considerable variation in attendance at different time slots between locations. The afternoon session was better attended at Casterton. The evening session was better attended at Portland. Nelson, Casterton and Heywood sessions attracted about the same number during the afternoon and evening sessions. 4.2. Stations The majority of feedback from the Open Houses was gathered through the Stations via Response Sheets completed by the Station Leaders with 100 people attending the sessions. A detailed summary of these results is included in Section 7, with topline results by location included in Section 5 and topline results by theme included in Section 6. The information gathered by Context Pty Ltd in relation to their project is not included in this report. However, information attained by Context related to topics covered by Stations 1- 4 is included in this report (At times participants would talk to the Context Team about topics covered in other stations which was recorded on Response Sheets).


4.3. Community Surveys There were 17 respondents to the community survey. A summary of the results is incorporated into Section 7 (combined with other information), with topline results by location included in Section 5 and topline results by theme included in Section 6. For a copy of the survey, see Appendix 4. For a full transcript of survey responses, see Appendix 5. 4.4. Graffiti Wall The Graffiti Wall was not extensively used during the Open Houses with very few people attending under the age of 25 years. However, it did provide a useful form of involvement for the few young people who attended. Feedback on the graffiti wall in response to the question, “What do you value about your parks?” included: Written responses included: • How can local people in Casterton-Dergholm districts express our non-Indigenous

identity? • What do Gunditj Mirring and Parks Victoria want to know? Illustrations included:


The values expressed in these drawings are included in the summary of findings in Section 7


4.5. Vision Board

In answer to the question, “What do you think of the Vision for the planning area?”, participants responded:

• I want to see healthy forest and abundant wildlife. The final sentence is good. It is the most important and sums it up well.

• Short and sweet:

“We will work together to restore and improve ecosystems - recognising the connections between people and Country: then, now, and always.”

• It’s more than recognise connections (people and country), it’s managing the land with that principle in mind.

These comments are also included in the summary of feedback on the Vision in Section 7. 4.6. Parkweb Online Feedback will be analysed in a separate process to the Open Houses. 4.7. Children’s Corner The Children’s Corner was set up to attain feedback on what children valued about their parks, as well as to entertain. However, very few children attended the Open Houses. This may be because the facility was not included in promotions of the sessions. 4.8. Thank-you Board Located at the main door where participants departed, the Thank-you Board thanked people for attending and asked what they liked about the Open Houses / how the experience could be improved. Written on a sticky note, the single response provided was: • Great opportunity to be heard, hope we are listened to. PS. Mt Eccles should have

traditional name.

“ ‘Ngootyoong Mirring, Ngootyoong Mara’ means Healthy Country, Healthy People which is what we want for the planning area. There are different landscapes – stone country, sea country, forest country and river country. They are all important and connect with each other and people. We all have a right and responsibility to care for country, working together with respectful conversations to achieve our aspirations for country. We will work together to restore and improve ecosystems to become intact and resilient. We recognise the connections between people and country; between communities and country – past, present and future. Forever.”


5. TOPLINE FINDINGS BY OPEN HOUSE LOCATION

Below is a summary of the information relating to the feedback received at the Stations at each Open House, drawing on the supplementary report titled, “Transcript of Response Sheets - South West Plan- June 2012”. The level of engagement of participants at the Open Houses was quite indepth with many people staying over an hour to talk to Station Leaders. The Stations were the most significant and useful tool in attaining feedback from participants, as well as providing information in response to questions and misperceptions. Results for Station 6 at Macarthur, where a table was set up especially to discuss the renaming of Mount Eccles National Park, were combined

into the responses for Station 3 to make it consistent with the write-up of results for the other Open Houses. The column titled ‘Top Topics Overall’ indicates themes that were nominated by the largest number of people. Other valuable points were made by participants which were not necessarily the most reiterated. All of these points are captured in Section 7, ‘Detailed Summary of Findings’.

Discussions held at Macarthur (above) and Nelson (right)


MACARTHUR

Number of people in attendance: - 15

Top Topics Overall Station 1 What you can do in parks, and where you can do it

Station 2 The Country, how it is managed and why

Station 3 Community connections with the land - past, present and future

Station 4 Managing fire to protect life, property and the area’s ecology

• Improve visitor access, interpretation, education, facilities at Mount Eccles National Park (MENP), especially in relation to Gunditjmara culture and access to Lake Condah.

• Support for the name change of MENP to Budj Bim NP.

• Support for tourism and further promotion of MENP

• Demand for increased interpretation, information and tours at Lake Condah and MENP.

• Improve 4WD drive and walking tracks and orientation signage in/between Lake Condah and MENP.

• Maintain existing visitor facilities such as campgrounds at MENP.

• Control of feral animals and weeds, especially goats at Mt Napier State Park, feral pines

• Support for the name change of MENP to Budj Bim NP.

• Concern about the impact of planned burns on MENP and stone country (wildlife, etc)

PORTLAND






• Concern about the impact of planned burns on flora and fauna.

• Interpretation of natural values at sites of interest.

• Concern about impacts of changed status of Cobboboonee NP on horseriding access, firewood collection.

• Various • Various • Substantial concern about the impact of planned burns on the diversity and numbers of flora and fauna. Need more research; reduce number and strength of burns.


HEYWOOD






• Concern about impacts of changed status of Cobboboonee NP on horse riding access, firewood collection.

• Want facilities and considerations to enhance horse riding in parks and reserves.

• Concern about the impact of planned burns on flora and fauna.

• Concern about impacts of changed status of Cobboboonee NP on horseriding access, firewood collection.

• Want facilities and considerations to enhance horse riding in parks.

• Need to reduce feral animals and weeds

• Various • Substantial concern about the impact of planned burns on the diversity and size of populations of flora and fauna. Need more research and to reduce number and strength of burns.

• Concern about protection of a range of specific sites from fire.

CASTERTON






• Value diversity of birdlife and other fauna. Need to maintain habitat.

• Improve management of weeds and feral animals.

• Various • Valuing of diversity of birdlife and other fauna.

• Need for improved management of weeds and feral animals.

• Various • Various


NELSON






• Impact of Coastal Wattle and rabbits and other feral species on habitat in Discovery Bay / Glenelg River / Nelson area.

• Access to the banks of the Glenelg River and linkages with other recreation facilities.

• Improve access between carparks / toilets and Glenelg River estuary with good walking tracks.

• Ensure adequate access to Glenelg River for fishing.

• Improved co-operation and communication between resource management agencies and community groups and residents to work together.

• Various • Concern about the impact of planned burns on the diversity and size of populations of flora and fauna. Need more research and to reduce number and strength of burns.


6. TOPLINE FINDINGS FROM OPEN HOUSES BY THEME The following includes the topline results from the Stations, community surveys and other Open House activities according to theme. They are based on feedback from 6+ people. See Section 7 for more information regarding these topics under the relevant theme heading. Please note: In relation to the column titled ‘Number of people commenting’, this refers to the number of people who made a comment on this issue via various Open House activities. One person may make comments on a range of topics. Observation also indicates that some participants made the same points at multiple Stations, or attended multiple Open Houses or replicated their views via different activities. In the data collation process, it is not possible to determine how much ‘double up’ has taken place. This should be considered when analysing the ‘Number of people commenting’ column. Management strategies were not identified for all concerns / issues raised.

THEME: WHAT YOU CAN DO IN PARKS, AND WHERE YOU CAN DO IT

No. of people commenting

Topic

Value Concerns / Support For Current Management Practices

Summary of Suggested Management Strategies

22

a. MENP and Lake Condah - tourism and recreation (cultural interpretation, 4WDing, walking, camping)

• Access, information and opportunities to explore the landscape and learn about Gunditjmara culture in MENP and Lake Condah

• Economic opportunities

• Recreation activities in the park

• MENP and Lake Condah should be experienced together.

• Want more opportunities for non-Indigenous people to learn about Gunditjmara culture and heritage, such as through tours.

• More opportunities to experience the history and features of MENP and Lake Condah.

• Better interpretation of MENP is needed - information centre, education, staffing.

• Address lack of clarity about how to access the Lake Condah area from MENP.

• Improve walk signage for visitors. • Improve promotion of these areas. • Establish a group camping area, fireplaces and

a “toilet dropping” facility. • Improve linkages to Macarthur township.

• PV to continue their presence at 4WD shows, especially the 50th anniversary in 2013.

• Sign and promote 4WD looped tracks throughout the park.

• Provide a range of services to help people experience the area such as tours during holiday periods.

• Sign post each walk - include name, distance, degree of difficulty and time required to walk.

• Establish and sign a looped vehicle access track from MENP to Lake Condah.

• Establish a route from Macarthur township to link up with MENP tracks.



Topic



13

b. Cobboboonee NP - horse riding

• Horse riding access through the parks for business and personal benefits.

• Want to maintain horse riding access in natural areas.

• Establish bush corridors to link fragmented forest between Cobboboonee NP and Cobboboonee SF.

• Establish off-road links for horse riding in the Cobboboonee.

• Continue horse riding access in Cobboboonee forest parks, incl. to Surry Ridge picnic area.

• Make tracks relatively wide to see snakes.

• Create off-road linkages between / within north and south of forest parks or use existing fire tracks, MVOs, etc.

• Ensure for horses from Jackass Horse Camp to Forest Park in south-east.

6 c. Horse riding in planning area

• Trails for endurance riding

• Well maintained trails • Historically,

unrestricted access to trails for horse riders.

• Easily accessible information about places to ride for horse riding clubs.

• Provide trails for endurance / trail horse riding.

• Introduction of unnecessary single-usage status for some tracks that excludes horse riders.

• Establish a Volunteer Agreement between landowners and horse riding club members to maintain trails.

• Keep trails accessible for horse riders and vehicles.

• Volunteers to assist in park / trail management, eg. track cleaning.

• Provide information on trails and good access for horse riding clubs.

6 d. Fishing and camping

• Fishing in Lake Monibeong, Crawford River, Lower Glenelg NP

• Access to streams

• Reduction in native fish in Lake Monibeong • Fishing areas, eg. Crawford River, should

remain accessible. • Quiet, attractive camp grounds are

important. • Ensure access to streams in parks and

reserves.

• Restock with native fish such as perch

• Ensure fishing areas and camp grounds remain.

• Increase access to Glenelg River and other streams via streamside reserves.



Topic



6 e. Glenelg River / Nelson - access to views and facilities

• Good access, viewing and facilities at Glenelg River estuary

• Create better access (ie. short walk) for general public for recreational purposes between carpark and ocean / river mouth.

• Install short walks along the river. • Create emergency access at estuary

to use when river floods.

• Establish a track from estuary toilet block to river mouth and sea to create a path between two areas to encourage user movement, eg. surf beach to river mouth. This would also create access for emergency vehicles. Assistance could be provided by Nelson Men’s Club and general community.

THEME: THE COUNTRY, HOW IT IS MANAGED AND WHY

13 f. Weeds • Native flora, incl. complexity / diversity

• Fish • Birdlife • Habitat • Rivers and creeks

• Problems with Boxthorn, Stinging weed along Glenelg River between Dartmoor and LGNP boundary, tall fescue grass, pine wildlings, Pittosporums, willows along Fitzroy River and Darlots Creek, Phalaris, Kykuyu on Cape Bridgewater

• Costal Wattle is causing major disturbance to other native vegetation. It should be classified as a weed.

• Altered age structure of forest with history of timber harvesting

• Currently doing a good job controlling blackberries along riversides

• DSE should continue the Coast Wattle control by Portland Aluminium as bird numbers were increasing.

• Continue to control blackberries and other weeds along riversides.

• Implement strategic result-based weed control.

• List Coastal Wattle as a weed of regional significance.

• For Coastal Wattle - implement a management program in association with community groups, eg. coastcare and landcare groups. Perhaps biological control of Coastal Wattle

10 g. Feral animals • Native flora and fauna (health and visual aesthetics)

• Black Wallabies • Koalas • Private property

• Foxes, dogs, feral cats, feral pigs at Swan Lake, rabbits, deer and goats - moving between vegetation corridors.

• Various agencies are not doing enough to resolve problems with feral animals. This includes private property owners.

• More controls of feral animals required. • Agencies to work together to formulate

plan/s to manage each pest problem. • Open up the country • Individuals to look after their properties.



Topic



9 h. Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Glenelg River - weeds, feral animals, sand movement, water flows, community engagement

• All natural values, especially: River health Biodiversity Long Swamp /

Estuary, Eel Creek camp

Lake Monibeong

• Improve co-ordination between various agencies to manage.

• 1946 flood washed an estimated 6 million tonnes of sand into the Glenelg River, which is slowly moving south. The sand migration has stalled (currently where sand mining is occurring).

• Restore former biodiversity values (ecological characters) of the entire Long Swamp wetlands complex and Glenelg estuary wetlands within Discovery Bay Coastal Park.

• PV has a lack of participation, engagement and communication with community groups and local residents.

• Lack of concern about weeds and feral animals and follow-up control/eradication measures.

• See Section 7 for more detailed strategies. • Attain Ramsar listing for relevant sites.

(Contacts: Ben Churchill). • Need to mine ahead of sand movement to

protect the Glenelg River. • Progressive remove invasive woody weeds

and Coast Wattle in sensitive habitat areas;

• Secure changes to the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 regulations (and Flora and Fauna Conservation Act’s schedules) to alter present nomenclatural status of several native plants, to woody weeds of Regional Significance including Coast Wattle and Sweet Pittosporum.

• Establish partnerships between government agencies, local communities to eradicate rabbits, including at Nelson township. This should include changes to DPI jurisdictions;

• Take a systematic approach to feral animal eradication from DBCP utilising partnerships involving Glenelg Alliance, Nelson Coastcare volunteers;

7 i. Birdlife • Native birds in Mt Eccles NP, Wilkin FR, Mill Swamp, Cobboboonee NP, Mumbannar NCR, Wilkins FFR, especially New Holland Honey Eaters, waterbirds, Rufus Bristlebird, sea eagles, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

• Healthy habitat for birds

• Bird populations have remained static and have not declined in the last 10 years due to good management.

• Maintain waterbird habitat, including re-flooding of Lake Condah.

• Continue good management practices. • Link with Birdlife Australia records to gauge

populations. • Maintain lakes and water levels. • Facilitate community engagement across

state border to preserve bird habitat.



Topic



6 j. Mt Napier SP - conservation and protection

• Native vegetation • Significant geological

features • Wetlands • Craters

• Goats need to be controlled. • Devil’s Hole geological feature is

half in/ half out of the park. • Wetlands to be restored, eg.

Buckley’s Swamp. • Crater at Mt Napier SP is fenced as

private property.

• Possible initiative for sporting shooters control program

• Adjacent landowner may be receptive to including Devil’s Hole in the park.

• Restore wetlands, protect crater at Mt Napier SP.

THEME: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS WITH THE LAND - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

17 k. MENP - name change to Budj Bim NP (approve)

• Acknowledgement of Indigenous heritage

• Happy to change name to Budj Bim NP

• Name change provides tourism marketing opportunities

• The least that can be done is to acknowledge traditional owners’ place names in their historical context. Budj Bim is giving recognition to these traditional occupants and is an essential component toward reconciliation.

• Should also rename Lake Condah to its traditional name. Use traditional name for stone country.

• Renaming of MENP should not redirect resources from facility maintenance.

6 l. MENP - name change to Budj Bim NP (disapprove)

• Current name of park • Don’t support the name change. • Joint name is too long. • Likes the use of the Budj Bim name

to refer to the whole landscape.

•

6 m. Glenelg River - river sites and shacks

• History of previous shack sites, esp. at Nelson

• Camping on Glenelg River

• Acknowledge former shacks and site holders on the river at sites within the Lower Glenelg NP.

• Maintain and upgrade camping facilities at Glenelg River

• Concern that the government might reverse licenses on shacks and remove them from the river.

• Identify historic shack sites. • Acknowledge early settlers and users of the

river. • Recognise European history and its

significance for Victoria’s first settlers.


THEME: MANAGING FIRE TO PROTECT LIFE, PROPERTY AND THE AREA’S ECOLOGY


Topic



27

n. Fuel reduction burning in the planning area

• Protection of flora and fauna,

• Biodiversity • Education of the

public about care and need for our natural landscapes

• Reference areas

• Impact of fuel reduction burning on flora and fauna - animals and plants are disappearing. Burning the same area over 2-3 days is wiping out species.

• Less burning (or no burning), more focus on respecting biodiversity.

• Fire burning scale is too large and does not consider wildlife and habitats enough.

• Currently burning in Spring when birds are nesting. • There is no detailed scientific knowledge on the

effects of regular burns. A lot more information is needed. What is the impact on Black Wallabies? What is the status of Red and Black Wallabies, wombats especially at Mt Richmond NP?

• Concerned about heavy equipment used to make and widen tracks.

• Old hollow trees that were previously ring-culled are being burnt thereby creating a loss of habitat.

• Concerned about the grid approach to mosaic burns - creates a reduction in fauna.

• Reference areas should not be subjected to planned burns.

• Immediate neighbours to burnings are being negatively impacted upon - smoke, smells, cleaning bills.

• Danger to the health of community members - especially elderly and infants due to increases in asthma.

• Fuel reduction burns are not giving Victorians value for their tax dollar.

• A greater emphasis needs to be placed on the planning of fuel reduction burns to embrace ecological values as an integral part of the planning process.

• Conduct a more strategic and scientifically based fire regime involving less or no burning, or smaller burns.

• Conduct a scientific study of present burning practices to discover the full effects on flora and fauna - how many animals are burned in fuel reduction burns; what plants grow back after burns, and will they germinate without burns? Get universities involved.

• Consider wildlife when planning burns.

• Burn in Autumn. • More education of public to reduce

“fear” of fire and reduce pressure on the government to burn.

• More education on the loss of animal life and biodiversity through fire.

• Always burn downhill. • Increase protection and

suppression. • Spend more dollars monitoring fire

outbreaks and providing a quick response to tackle fires.

• Consult with stakeholders, including field naturalists and others with expertise, before selecting burn areas.

• Publish the full costs of the burning regime.

Open House Findings Report ‐ June 2012 by Insight Communications 25

7. DETAILED SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The information in this section is a collation of all results from the Open Houses - including Response Sheets at Stations, community surveys, Vision Board, etc. A separate summary of the community survey responses is also available in Appendix 5. Please note: The information below is not in order of priority. For each key ‘theme’, information related to ‘topics of interest’ relevant to the whole planning area is listed first, followed by park or site specific topics. In relation to the column titled ‘Number of people commenting’, this relates to the number of people who made a comment on this issue. One person may make comments on a range of topics. Observation indicated that some participants made the same points at multiple Stations, or attended multiple Open Houses or replicated their views using different activities. In the data collation process, it is not possible to determine how much ‘double up’ has taken place. This should be considered when analysing the ‘number of people commenting’ column.


Theme: What you can do in the parks, and where you can do it (as per STATION 1) Topics include:

Recreation Activities • Visitor Experience Sustainable Tourism • Roads and Access Legislation, Policies and Guidelines • Levels of Service for Recreation Values Authorised Uses


TOPICS OF INTEREST

VALUE of the Planning Area

CONCERNS / SUPPORT FOR CURRENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

SUGGESTED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

2 a. Access • Access, including good roads

• Permit ongoing access to all areas for all people.

•

2 b. Access into parks for disabled people

• Access to coast, fishing, caves

• Concerned about the level of access into parks for disabled people.

• Likes the level of interaction with park rangers.

• Generally PV approach is on the right track.

2 c. Interpretation • Good information about sites in the planning area

• More information, interpretation signs everywhere - South Australia already has more

• More developed interpretation of vegetation types, flora / fauna and history of the area, perhaps at public access points, eg. GSWW.

•



TOPICS OF INTEREST




6 d. Horse riding • Trails for endurance riding

• Well maintained trails

• Historically, unrestricted access to trails for horse riders.

• Easily accessible information about places to ride for horse riding clubs.

• Endurance / trail horse riding • Introduction of unnecessary single-usage status

for some tracks that excludes horse riders. • Horses are not ridden in the bush, only on

trails. • Establish a Volunteer Agreement between

landowners and horse riding club members to maintain trails. This is happening in Gippsland and volunteers want to be involved in this area.

• Keep trails accessible for horse riders and vehicles - and wide enough to see snakes

• Volunteers to assist in park / trail management, eg. track cleaning.

• Ensure information and good access for horse riding clubs.

2 e. Firewood collection • Firewood collecting • Some areas have too many redgum trees. • Want to be able to collect firewood.

• Establish some green collection sites.

2 f. Hunting of feral animals

• Hunting • Expansion of deer, pig and feral goat numbers with opportunities for control by recreational hunters.

• Point Danger re: Rifle Club - legalities of deer hunting

• Ease restrictions for recreational hunters. • Properly manage deer hunting at Point

Danger, sort out the legalities.

6 g. Fishing and camping • Fishing in Lake Monibeong, Crawford River, Lower Glenelg NP

• Access to streams

• Used to be trout and redfin in Lake Monibeong but no longer

• Fishing areas, eg. Crawford River, should remain accessible.

• Quiet, attractive camp grounds are important. • OK that have closed off access from freehold

land along Glenelg River. • Who manages PV or DSE streamside reserves?

Is river frontage in the planning area accessible?

• Restock with native fish such as perch • Ensure fishing areas and camp grounds

remain. • Increase access to Glenelg River and other

streams via streamside reserves.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




1 h. Recreation facilities • Recreation facilities • Maintain and enhance current assets, eg. camp grounds and community areas.

•

2 i. Bee keeping • Access to national parks for bee sites

• Production of honey

• PV needs to take into account access and sites for bee keepers and understand that bee keeping has long, seasonal cycles, eg. 10 years’ duration, and can only use nectar when it’s there.

• Concerned that PV may be unnecessarily hostile to commercial bee keepers.

• Avoid reduction in bee sites. • Should be additional bee sites in Lower

Glenelg NP, Cobboboonee NP, Discovery Bay NP.

3 j. 4WDriving and trail bike riding

• Good accessibility, information and interaction for 4WDing with local input.

• Tracks in good condition without ridges and pot holes (caused by 4WDs and trail bikes) for horse riding

• Too many road closures • Possibilities of mutually beneficial partnerships

between Land Rovers Owners Club of Victoria and PV / DSE / GM

• Improve signage of track access for 4WDs and 2WDs.

• Concerned about the damage and impacts caused by 4WDs and trail bikes to trails during wet weather.

• Develop new partnerships to support 4WD access, information and interaction.

• More signage to be installed which indicates 4WD or 2WD access.

• Conduct seasonal vehicle closures when wet.

2 k. Great South West Walk (GSWW)

• Walking • Natural values

• Campsites at GSWW deteriorating - walkers cutting down saplings, cutting into trees

•

3 l. Finding wildflowers • Local knowledge about wildflowers (Wilkin area)

• Lack of understanding and appreciation of flora • Develop fact sheets and map about local wildflowers. Could be a field guide used by tourists.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




3 m. Mt Eccles NP (MENP) - adequate resourcing of park management

• Natural and cultural values

• Park is an asset to the public. Need staff assistance to undertake the day-to-day work at MENP. More local management would help with management of the adhoc camping with many people not paying camping fees.

• Improvements needed to resourcing of park management and the allocation of contracts.

• Appoint a localised part-time or FSO person to work at MENP.

• If people can’t be employed and work in the park, PV should set up and assist a Friends Group for the park.

• Give consideration to offering more contracts for general works at the park to locals, eg. cleaning.

• Focus on the busiest times of year, eg. over the holiday period.

7 n. MENP and Lake Condah - roads and access to and within

• Good access to points of interest

• Enjoy touring around in a 4WD

• Linkages with Macarthur township

• Tracks to points of interest are well maintained and signed.

• Could improve access to view Lake Condah • All roads should remain open for access

except in the case of cultural reasons. • Do so many roads need to be closed? • Would like better linkages between town and

MENP. • Sand dune driving should be more accessible,

eg. not just 3-day passes - more flexibility needed. What happens to the money raised?

• Sign and promote 4WD looped tracks throughout the park using the appropriate 4WD track classification.

• Would like a route from Macarthur township to link up with MENP tracks.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




15

o. MENP and Lake Condah - tourism and recreation (cultural interpretation, 4WDing, walking, camping)

• Access, information and opportunities to explore the landscape and learn about Gunditjmara culture

• Economic opportunities

• Recreation activities in the park

• Both MENP and Lake Condah complement each other and should be experienced together.

• Would like more opportunities for non-Indigenous people to learn about Gunditjmara culture and heritage from Gunditjmara people, such as through cultural tours.

• Want to tour this area but no-one answers the phone to take tour bookings.

• Better interpretation of MENP is needed - information centre, education, staffing.

• Are there any other significant areas in MENP, eg. caves and points of interest, to promote to visitors?

• More opportunities to experience the history and features of the park

• Confusion / uncertainty about access into the Lake Condah area; have problems finding out how and when they can go there.

• Would like to learn more and have more opportunities to visit Lake Condah.

• Need for better signage at the start of each walk so visitors can be better prepared when setting out.

• Why can’t we do a looped tour of the park where the track goes through Lake Condah and into the park again?

• Why are there so many mud tracks in the park? • How is the area going to be promoted to tourists within

Victoria, Australia and the world? • Would like to see group camping area and a “toilet

dropping” facility. • Install fireplaces so people don’t make their own around

the camp.

• More information should be made available to visitors,

• MENP should be promoted more to the general public; is Victoria’s ‘best kept secret’.

• Would like PV to continue their presence at 4WD shows, especially the 50th anniversary in 2013.

• Provide a range of services to help people experience the area such as tours during busy holiday periods, etc.

• Sign post each walk - include name, distance, degree of difficulty and time required to walk.

• Gunditjmara to give permission for vehicle access from MENP to Lake Condah, and a loop back into MENP Caves and other attractions need to be highlighted.

• PV could assist to set up opportunities for visitors to interact with Gunditjmara Traditional Owners to learn about their culture.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




4 p. Cobboboonee NP - camping and picnicking

• Camping and picnicking at CNP

• None of the camping areas at CNP have shelters for inclement weather.

• Simple little shelters with a water tank at these spots would be fantastic.

13

q. Cobboboonee NP - horse riding

• Horse riding access links through the parks

• Horse riding access for business and personal benefits.

• Want to maintain horse riding access • Fragmented bits of forest between

Cobboboonee NP and Cobboboonee SF - want continuous corridors between areas of park.

• Want off-road links not on road because of traffic conflicts.

• Some locals can only access the forest via horse riding.

• Users include mental health rehabilitation groups, youth and family services, RDA, visiting riding and pony clubs, international visitors (average of 3 per day between Sept - April).

• Continue horse riding access in Cobboboonee forest parks.

• Make tracks relatively wide to see snakes. • Create off-road linkages between / within

north and south of forest parks or use existing fire tracks, MVOs, etc.

• Look at MVO track / ensure accessible for horses from Jackass Horse Camp to Forest Park in south-east.

• Continue access to Surry Ridge picnic area.

2 r. Cobboboonee NP - wood collecting

• Wood collecting • Firewood should be collected to keep fuel down.

• It’s a waste of wood not to be able to collect firewood at Cobboboonee NP.

• Allow collection of firewood.

3 s. Cobboboonee NP - change of access with creation of NP

• Previously, there was better access for 4WDs and horses, more tracks.

• Concerned re: reduced access following creation of National Park.

• Allow vehicle and horse access as they were permitted prior to the creation of the NP.

2 t. Cobboboonee NP - Surry Ridge picnic area

• Education of NVM values

• Opportunities for education of NVM values • NVM to be provided at Surry Ridge picnic area.

1 u. Cobboboonee NP - signage

• Good access and directional information

• Lack of signage at CNP •



TOPICS OF INTEREST




3 v. Mt Clay - horse riding access around Mt Clay

• Choice to ride on all trails; access to all areas.

• Restricted access for horse riding around Mt Clay due to changes in land status to NP.

• Riding on roads is OK for experienced riders.

• Riding on non-gravel, non-surfaced trails is preferred (not wide dozered trails).

1 w. Discovery Bay Coastal Park - recreation and tourism, especially at Seals Lookout

• Tourism activity • International visitors are a large proportion of visitors at the Seals Lookout.

• Opportunities for the promotion of the area’s attractions

• Toilet facilities needed at Seals Lookout.

1 x. Rocky Creek - bridge

• Safe access to Rocky Creek

• Improvement of the bridge is vital. • Fix the bridge.

4 y. Nelson - rubbish removal

• • People leave rubbish in the township of Nelson as park bins have been removed.

• The withdrawal of all the rubbish bins from the Parks and the associated problems that has precipitated, ie. more rubbish in the parks and in the Nelson township.

• PV not to pass on responsibility for rubbish to Shire - park users filling up Nelson township’s bins instead of parks’ bins. Seen as cost shifting

• Maintain rubbish bins in parks - see Parks NSW : most if not all their parks and camping areas have skip bins with recyclable options. Can only imagine a slight adjustment in fees to cater for this service.

• If don’t want bins in the camping areas, could locate at parks’ main entrances

2 z. Nelson - visitor information centre

• • Will visitor information centre remain when PV goes online?

• Major issue for community and visitors if centre closes. Supported by the recent Glenelg Sustainable Settlement Strategy document. This says “…In conjunction with the DSE continued improvements to the Community Centre and Visitor Information Centre…” The continued manned info centre is also supported by Nelson Tourism, Nelson Committee of Management and Nelson Progress Association.

• Retain our Nelson visitor information centre as a matter of priority.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




6 aa. Glenelg River / Nelson - access to views and facilities

• Good access, viewing and facilities at estuary

• Create better access (ie. short walk) for general public for recreational purposes between carpark and ocean / river mouth.

• Install short walks along the river. • Create emergency access at estuary to use

when river floods. • More access to the river with jetties for fishing

• Make access to the river between Sapling Creek and Pattersons.

• Nelson Men’s Club and general community would be prepared to help with this.

• Establish an emergency entry / exit to the Glenelg River estuary.

• I would like a track put in from estuary toilet block to river mouth and sea to create a path between two areas to encourage user movement, eg. surf beach to river mouth. This would also create access for emergency vehicles. Could be a sand track with posts and wires, eg. Yambuk walk. Being a member of the Men’s Shed in Nelson, we would be interested in doing assistance work on the track.

1 bb. Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Genelg River / Nelson - equitable access

• Access for all • Balance the protection of the environment with the need to ensure the next generation see it as important and can’t do this if exclude young people from sections of the parks. Need to continue to engage young people.

• Could have special permits for access for disabled people, eg. could be older or younger people - anyone that qualifies for the permit system

2 cc. Lower Glenelg NP - camping

• Quality camp sites • Will PV maintain campsites to the same standard at Lower Glenelg NP

•


Theme: The Country, how it is managed and why…and how you can help…(as per STATION 2) Topics include:

Natural Values Invasive Species Climate change Water and Catchments Levels of Protection for Natural Values


TOPICS OF INTEREST




4 dd. Biodiversity • Biodiversity • Protect native species and their habitat. x 4 people

• See also comments below on Birdlife, Feral Animals, Weeds, Nature Corridors, etc. which support biodiversity. Also under ‘Fire management’.

• Increase research on what flora and fauna exists and where areas are, and use this to promote your management, eg. this area is sugar glider habitat (PV management has allowed this colony to reach sustainable levels).

7 ee. Birdlife • Birds in Mt Eccles NP, Wilkin FR, Mill Swamp, Cobboboonee NP, Mumbannar NCR, Wilkins FFR, especially New Holland Honey Eaters, Rufus Bristlebird, waterbirds, sea eagles, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (RTBC)

• Healthy habitat for native birds

• Bird populations have remained static and not declined in the last 10 years. Parks being managed well.

• Maintain waterbird habitat, including re-flooding of Lake Condah.

• How is RTBC habitat planned into FOP and managed?

• What % of annual target is RTBC habitat?

• Continue good management practices. • Link with Birdlife Australia records to

gauge populations. • Maintain lakes and water levels. • Facilitate community engagement across

state border to preserve bird habitat.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




10 ff. Feral animals • Native flora and fauna (health and visual appeal)

• Black Wallabies • Koalas • Private property

• Foxes, dogs, feral cats, feral pigs at Swan Lake, deer and goats - coming out of corridors.

• Various agencies are not doing enough to resolve problems with feral animals, including rabbits and foxes. This includes private property owners.

• Increases in deer and foxes are threatening koalas and Black Wallabies.

• Rabbit numbers not as bad as they used to be (in some areas) but starting to build.

• Rabbit population increasing and viewed as a major problem (Nelson area).

• Over abundant koalas in Annya SF.

• Open up the country • More controls of feral animals required. • Agencies to work together to formulate

plan/s to manage each pest problem. • Individuals to look after their properties.

13 gg. Weeds • Native flora, incl. complexity

• Fish • Birdlife • Habitat • Rivers and creeks

• Problems of Boxthorn • Stinging weed along Glenelg River between

Dartmoor and LGNP boundary. Weed is spreading and increasing in density.

• Costal Wattle is causing major disturbance to other native vegetation, esp. Long Swamp (Bridgewater to SA border), open areas and riverbanks of Lower Glenelg NP, and all coastal wetlands. Should be classified as a weed.

• Tall fescue grass spreading • Woody weed control • Pine wildlings • Pittosporums • Altered age structure of forest with history of

timber harvesting. • Willows along Fitzroy River and Darlots Creek. • Currently doing a good job controlling

blackberries along riversides • Increase in Phalaris grass in the last 7-8 years

along riversides.

• DSE should continue the Coast Wattle control by Portland Aluminium as bird numbers were increasing.

• Continue to control blackberries and other weeds along riversides.

• Remove other weeds. • List coastal wattle as a weed of regional

significance. • For Coastal Wattle - implement a

management program in association with community groups, eg. coastcare and landcare groups.

• Perhaps biological control of Coastal Wattle

• Implement strategic result-based weed control - particularly on Cape Bridgewater (Kykuyu)

3 hh. Nature corridors • Habitat for wildlife including bees

• Need more nature corridors to link isolated / island reserves

• Establish more nature corridors between reserves



TOPICS OF INTEREST




2 ii. Closure of outlets

• Health of waterways, esp. Long Swamp.

• Long Swamp and other outlets - lack of action is allowing the closure of outlets

• Agencies to further examine the impacts of closure or non-closure of outlets.

2 jj. Good neighbours (private property)

• Responsible neighbours (manage pest plants and animals)

• Some neighbours not being responsible. •

2 kk. Monitoring health of parks

• Preservation of flora and fauna

• How do you measure a ‘healthy park’ or a natural park? What’s the trajectory for the condition of the park?

• Preserve flora and fauna, especially significant plants, trees and environments

Save plants, trees and environments for future generations.

1 ll. Interlinking values

• • Consider natural and cultural values all as ‘values’

3 mm. Native grasslands

• Casterton’s native grasslands - “Australia Felix” - rich grazing country

6 nn. Mt Napier SP - conservation and protection

• Native vegetation • Significant

geological features • Wetlands • Craters

• Goats need to be controlled - currently there are holes in fences on a boundary which need to be fixed (map supplied to Brian Doolan).

• Devil’s Hole geological feature is half in/ half out of the park. Adjacent landowner probably receptive to including the feature in the park.

• Would like to see wetlands restored, eg. Buckley’s Swamp.

• Crater at Mt Napier SP is fenced as private property.

• Possible initiative for sporting shooters control program

• John Cayley (person in discussion) to talk to landowner about land exchange in relation to Devil’s Hole (close old access track on east side of the park).

• Restore wetlands, protect crater at Mt Napier SP



TOPICS OF INTEREST




3 oo. Mt Eccles NP (MENP) - conservation and protection

• Native vegetation, habitat and wildlife

• Need cross tenure weed control. • Too many weeds at Lake Surprise - Mt Eccles

looking like it did in the 1980s • Feral pines in the park • There used to be Manna Gums in the park but

they were cleared. Only Blackwoods, etc. have regrown.

• Concerned about the revegetation of the quarry face

• Habitat corridors for wildlife movement are very important.

• Cross tenure weed management - if PV is doing weed control, it would be good to help out neighbouring landholders.

• Advice was sought on whether fire could be used to restore Manna Gums.

• Conduct closer collaboration with plantation companies - get them to do their bit, especially given that the problems start from their plantations.

1 pp. View and farmland around Lake Surprise

• Visual aesthetics of the landscape

• Would like nothing to be changed around Lake Surprise- remain pristine as it is.

1

qq. Mount Richmond NP - grass / weed control

• Native flora and fauna

• • Kennedy’s Road slashing - PV should slash the park boundary not the fenceline.

2 rr. Dergholm SP • Walking in bush • Native flora, esp.

orchids • Other fauna

• Invasion by pine trees • At least 3 species of orchids have disappeared -

Blunt nosed Greenhood, Little Greenhood, Hyacinth Orchid - as well as a decline in a number of other flora, bats and koalas since 1970s from human activity.

• Fencing on the boundary - need a buffer inside the park to protect trees breaking fences and for a fire break.

• Burn the forest regularly, every 5 years, to regenerate the bush.

• Public access to Baileys Rocks area should be restricted.

• Put buffers inside parks.



TOPICS OF INTEREST


CONCERNS / SUPPORT FOR CURRENT MANAGEMENT

PRACTICES


2 ss. Cape Bridgewater - weeds

• Too many weeds on the Cape. • Test with spraying round-up • Put in break.

9 tt. Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Glenelg River - Weeds, feral animals, sand movement, water flows, community engagement

• All natural values, especially: River health Biodiversity Long Swamp /

Estuary, Eel Creek camp

Lake Monibeong

• Requires better co-operation from various agencies to manage.

• 1946 flood washed an estimated 6 million tonnes of sand into the Glenelg River, which is slowly moving south. The sand migration has stalled (currently where sand mining is occurring).

• Restore former biodiversity values (ecological characters) of the entire Long Swamp wetlands complex and Glenelg estuary wetlands within Discovery Bay Coastal Park.

• PV’s general lack of participation, engagement and communication with community groups and local residents; dismissive attitudes towards community groups (e.g. Nelson Coastcare);

• lack of concern about weeds and feral animals and follow-up control/eradication measures e.g. areas immediately adjacent to LGNP Nelson works office re: weeds (includes DSE managed areas) and Rubbish Tip environs (Tip proper is Glenelg Shire’s responsibility);

• Get the site Ramsar listed (Contacts: Ben Churchill). • Need to mine ahead of sand movement to protect

the Heritage River section of the Glenelg (Lower Glenelg).

• Progressive removal of aggressively invasive woody weeds and Coast Wattle in sensitive habitat areas e.g., wetland peripherial sectors dominated previously by Woolly Tea Tree (Melaleuca lanigera ;

• Changes to the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 regulations (and Flora and Fauna Conservation Act’s schedules) to alter present nomenclatural status of several native plants, to woody weeds of Regional Significance including: Coast Wattle (Acacia lonifolia subsp. sophorae) and Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum);

• Systematic, progressively staged projects aimed at removing/controlling all township environs woody weeds, including WoNS and and creepers e.g., Western Australian Bluebell (Billardiera heterophylla syn.Sollya heterophylla). This eradication model embraces roadside reserves, river-bank habitats and eventually, private properties. The aim is to remove Nelson as a weed dissemination source to surrounding parks and public lands;

• Partnership of government agencies, local communities to eradicate Nelson township rabbits (a continuous point-infestation source to surrounding public lands, agricultural areas). This should include changes to DPI jurisdictions;

• Systematic approach to feral animal eradication from DBCP utilising partnerships involving Glenelg Alliance,


Nelson Coastcare volunteers;

• Restoration of Lake Monibeong overflows (mostly seasonal/episodical) to Eel Creek. Noble’s Rock’s non-legitimate, man-made ocean outfall to be blocked off. Retention of all water inflows from unconfined aquifers (much reduced from hinterland land management practice changes of past decade) is vital to arrest decline of wetland values. Existing Government bores throughout DBCP need to be regularly checked for water levels and records made freely - and easily - available. Infra-red thermal imaging of DBCP karst coastline (on-shore and off-shore), integral to understanding water upwelling point- and dispersal-sites for evaluating best integrative management practices, is a project that should be given priority status.

• Scientific data collation to be systemised in collections and records. A benchmark of biodiversity values and assets is urgently needed for effecting appropriate management planning. All data to be freely available to public and not just exclusive to journal publications (e.g., CSIRO journals);

• Local Parks Victoria personnel need to keep their regional senior officers up-dated about all on-ground environmental changes. Accurate, updated local reports are vital to formulating appropriate and effective management practices;

• Parks and DSE personnel attend government-run workshops and forums to learn, appreciate and put into practice the underlying principles of collaboration, communication and co-operation to instill the advantages of partnerships and the need to harness all interested stakeholders to recovering degraded environments such as our Long Swamp wetlands. I strongly advocate Geoff Brown, facilitator and educator, as used by Coastcare Victoria and GHCMA in their community and professional workshops and forums to generate positive impacts in this regard.


Open Houses at Heywood (left) and Macarthur (right)


TOPICS OF INTEREST



PRACTICES


1

uu. North east Boundary Track

• Access • Track is currently closed to allow regrowth. Need to keep open with slow burn / slash.

• Maintain slashed tracks. • Exit sign points to Telegraph Road - should be

pointing the other way. 1 vv. Kincaid Creek /

drain • Adequate drainage

at Kincaid Creek • Concerned that original promise by

Minister Jennings will not continue. Commitment by Rob Bartlett to keep open / cleared.

•


Theme: Community connections with the land - past, present and future (as per STATION 3) Topics include:

Cultural Heritage – Cultural Landscape Gunditjmara Cultural Values Renaming of Mt Eccles NP to Budj Bim NP (includes responses for Station 6 at Macarthur) Gunditjmara Statement of Significance Gunditjmara Native Title Determination


TOPICS OF INTEREST




ww. Learning about Gunditjmara culture

• See Theme - What you can do in the parks, and where you can do it (as per Station 1)

2 xx. Co-operation between different agencies, including Indigenous, and community groups

• Sharing information between agencies and community groups.

• Need a point of contact for Indigenous issues • Coastcare not informed about DSE works.

• (Gave participant the contact details of Gunditj Mirring TOAC)

1 yy. Coverage of the planning area to include IPAs

• Native Title • Why are the IPAs included in the management planning process and planning area?

• IPAs are private property, therefore why are they included in the planning process, when they already have requirements based under Native Title?

•

2 zz. Aboriginal values in management plan

• Aboriginal culture • Likes PV’s integration of Aboriginal values in the new management plan.

• Provide opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture for older people as well as children (eg. interpretation).

•



TOPICS OF INTEREST




5 aaa. Aboriginal nations relevant to the planning process

• Acknowledgement of traditional owners from all Aboriginal language groups relevant to the planning area

• Currently only Gunditjmara people involved in the planning and management of the planning area.

• RAP area boundaries do not reflect the language group north of the Glenelg / Wannon Rivers, Djab Wurrung, which means they will be excluded from participation in the management planning process.

• Need to consult with other Aboriginal people who have lived north of the Wannon River (not Gunditjmara country) for their lifetime, as part of the planning process and management of the area.

• Conduct targeted meetings for Casterton locals and language groups.

• Management planning group to be more aware of different language groups.

1 bbb. Land rights for Aboriginal people

• Right to Gunditjmara people’s own lands - access, economic development, culture, education - for all aspects of life

• Self-determination - right to determine way of life according to Gunditjmara culture rather than white man’s rule.

• White people and governments in Australia have denied that they have stolen land from Aboriginal people. For over 214 years, they have committed an act of trespass, which is a crime under Common Law. This includes Conspiracy to Trespass, Continual Trespass and Trespass for Wrongful Death.

• Native title does not fully address this.

• It is time that Australia’s Aboriginal people received appropriate compensation for what has been stolen from them, and the pain and suffering caused.

• The actions of Australian governments for trespassing on Aboriginal people’s land should be trialled in the International Court for an independent assessment of the compensation that is due.

3 ccc. Gunditjmara names on shire signs

• Acknowledgement of Gunditjmara culture

• Change names of signs • Shire to work with Gunditj Mirring.

1

ddd. Change names of birds to Indigenous names

• Cultural education opportunities

• Support the change of names of birds to Indigenous names.

2 eee. Culture and history - Indigenous and non-Indigenous

• Culture and history • Identify and prove cultural and historic sites. • How can local people in Casterton-Dergholm

districts express our non-Indigenous identity?

•



TOPICS OF INTEREST




3 fff. Mount Eccles NP (MENP) - cultural sites

• Built cultural heritage • Historic Mt Eccles

• Hut / stone of interest on lefthand side of Fooks (Footes?) Track next to stone wall.

• Travelled there as children in the 1950s and found the rock - not sure of history or value but strange feature.

• Used a sled on Paddy Huntley Track to traverse the stones over 80 years ago (on private land).

• For 40 years rangers have come from Macarthur.

•

17 ggg. MENP - name change to Budj Bim NP (approve)

• Acknowledgement of Indigenous heritage

• Happy to change name to Budj Bim NP • Support name change as it was “named in

error” • Name change provides tourism marketing

opportunities • Happy with the proposed name change but

want the peat (volcano) to maintain the name Mount Eccles.

• The least that can be done is to acknowledge traditional owners’ place names in their historical context. Budj Bim is giving recognition to these traditional occupants and is an essential component toward reconciliation.

• Very receptive to this. • Historic Mt Eccles in Budj Bim National Park

• Should also rename Lake Condah to its traditional name. Use traditional name for stone country.

• Renaming of MENP should not redirect resources from facility maintenance.

6 hhh. MENP - name change to Budj Bim NP (disapprove)

• Current name of park • Don’t support the name change. • Joint name is too long. • Likes the use of the Budj Bim name to refer

to the whole landscape. • I only know this as Mt Eccles. Need a

compromise. • It won’t make much difference. I’ll probably

still refer to it as Mt Eccles.

•



TOPICS OF INTEREST




2 iii. MENP - name change to Budj Bim NP (alternative)

• Current name of park and acknowledge Indigenous heritage

• Include both names. • Keep both names in recognising European heritage (Mt Eccles Budj Bim National Park)

• I think (name change) would be fine but as people are used to called it Mt Eccles, perhaps have it written alongside in smaller letters, ie. Budj Bim (Mt Eccles).

4 jjj. Mt Clay • History - both European and Indigenous

• Sawpit at Mt Clay

• Ensure information is not lost!! Heywood pub root in MCFR (?) Charcoal kilns Explosives dump near sandpit - probably

roads the department uses. • Would like to see Sawpit maintained to

present capabilities - not reduced or removed. Now listed on free Camping Map of Australia.

• Have sites located / listed / referenced and given a protection status.

• Continue management as it is. • Consider installing a second toilet.

1 kkk. Dean Maar • Gunditjmara heritage • Gunditjmara island property that should be included in the planning area.

1

1

lll. Spud paddock • Part of history • Concern that small sites of historical significance are being forgotten

1 mmm. Tyrendarra IPA

• • Support for no grazing in the IPAs • Maintain Tyrendarra IPA.

6 nnn. Glenelg River - river sites and shacks

• History of previous shack sites, esp. at Nelson

• Camping on Glenelg River

• Previous shack sites and expansion of further areas

• Acknowledge former shack and site holders on the river at sites within the Lower Glenelg NP.

• Ongoing maintenance and upgrade of camping facilities

• Concerned that the government might reverse licenses on shacks and remove them from the river.

• Identify prior areas. • Acknowledge early settlers and users of the

river. • Recognise European history and its

significance for Victoria’s first settlers. • Issues for Nelson Reserves Committee of

Mngt.

2 ooo. River sites and camp sites in Lower Glenelg NP

• Camping and river landings

• • More funding required for the park and management of campsites.

• Install signage and interpretive information about the history of the river and early settlers.


Theme: Managing fire to protect life, property and the area’s ecology (as per STATION 4) Topics include:

Fire management


TOPICS OF INTEREST




27

ppp. Fuel reduction burning in the planning area

• Protection of flora and fauna,

• Biodiversity • Education of the public

about care and need for our natural landscapes

• Reference areas

• Impact of fuel reduction burning on flora and fauna - animals are disappearing. Burning the same area over 2-3 days is wiping out species.

• Less burning (or no burning), more focus on respecting biodiversity.

• Fire burning scale is too large and does not consider wildlife and habitats enough.

• We are killing all the animals. • Burning in Spring when birds are nesting. • A lot more information on wildlife species

and the impacts of burning is needed. What is the impact on Black Wallabies? What is the status of Red and Black Wallabies, wombats especially at Mt Richmond NP?

• Not enough focus on animals, too much focus on humans

• Concerned about heavy equipment used to make and widen tracks.

• Old hollow trees that were previously ring-culled are being burnt in planned burns, thereby creating a loss of habitat.

• Ensure values of PV remain in the new plan. • Concerned about the grid approach to

mosaic burns - creates a reduction in fauna. • Reference areas should not be subjected to

planned burns. • Immediate neighbours to burnings are being

negatively impacted upon - smoke, smells, cleaning bills.

• Participant is educating her grandchildren

• Conduct less or no burning, or smaller burns.

• More careful burning, more strategic and scientifically based fire regime.

• Conduct a scientific study of present burning practices to discover the full effects on flora and fauna - how many animals are incinerated by fuel reduction burns: What plants grow back after burns and will they germinate without burns?

• Do smaller burns that have patches where nothing is burned.

• Consider wildlife when planning burns. • More research • Research into burning techniques and

impacts on specific species. Get universities involved.

• Burn in Autumn. • More education of public to reduce “fear”

of fire and reduce pressure on the government to burn.

• More education on the loss of animal life and biodiversity through fire.

• Always burn downhill. • Increase protection and suppression. • More dollars towards monitoring fire

outbreaks and quick response to tackle fires.

• More resources directed at prevention of fires, and less or no controlled burns to be


about value of fuel reduction burns to protect the township of Nelson

• Promote the variation of wildflowers, not the sterile monoculture that follows wildfires

• Most of the state is cleared and forests are not the fire risk some feel they area.

• Forests appear to develop into a kind of mono-culture. My recent walk through the Cobboboonee proved very disappointing - no fauna, no avi-fauna in any numbers - why? Burning appears to be political not based on scientific research. I am totally opposed to current methods.

• Detrimental to the whole ecosystem and is not giving Victorians value for their tax dollar.

• A greater emphasis needs to be placed on the planning of fuel reduction burns to embrace ecological values as an integral part of the planning process.

• “Stop the burning”. Massive danger to the health of community members - especially elderly and infants. Increase in asthma. Burning habitat trees that take 150 years to form hollows. No detailed scientific knowledge on the effects of regular burns.

undertaken. • Consult with stakeholders, including field

naturalists and others with expertise, before selecting burn areas.




TOPICS OF INTEREST




1 qqq. Fuel reduction burns - protection of cultural heritage

• Cultural heritage • • Form partnerships with Traditional Owners.

• Conduct a risk management prior to burns, eg. caves.

• Provide funding for post-fire walkovers, for when CHMP’s are not required.

2 rrr. Fuel reduction burns - impacts on Powerful Owls and Eastern Barred Bandicoot

• Powerful owls • Eastern Barred

Bandicoot

• Destruction of habitat through fuel reduction burns - decrease of numbers - facing local extinction.

• Funds spent on preserving Eastern Barred Bandicoots is too high to lose them to fire.

• What’s happened in the last 30 years needs to be re-measured.

• Burns should be cooler, not as hot as happening at present.

1 sss. Fuel reduction burns - impacts on bee sites

• Honey • Scorch is better for honey production • Needs less than 50% crown scorch for honey production

3 ttt. Fire management • Improve fire management. • In my observation, this fire management has

not taken place. Those in power want to hope that the Cobboboonee does not flare up. Need more fire management. People in the city know nothing of the bush.

•

1 uuu. Fire safety • Fire safety of townships

• Adequate fire season notification - Why does Macarthur’s fire season notification appear to be older than Hawkesdale’s? Who is responsible for getting an updated one?

• Poor communication of fire operators plan. • Need good quality roads for fire protection.

• Better communications • Maintain track network.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




4 vvv. Land management through fire

• Fire helps with regeneration

• Early settlers used fire as a management tool, eg. to create stock feed in Dergholm area.

• Diversity of flora and fauna

• For Dergholm and Dorodong area • All areas should be burnt on 7 year rotation (late Spring or late Autumn) to maintain diversity.

4 www. Mt Eccles NP (MENP) - fuel reduction burning

• Natural values • High intensity burning can damage the overhead canopy.

• How are the impacts of planned burns on wildlife monitored?

• What consideration is there for weed control after burns?

• More frequent, low intensity fuel reduction burning on stones / lava flow, and protection buffers with adjoining private land.

• CMA to provide more input into development of FOP.

2 xxx. MENP - fire threat

• Natural values • Reduce threat of fire starting at camp sites and spreading to the summit

• See sketched map provided.

1

yyy. Mount Richmond NP - fuel reduction burning

• Natural values • Too many kangaroos. • Not salt affected and thus will burn. • Mismanaged vegetation - too thick and

nowhere for kangaroos to eat. • PV won’t burn in May / June or Aug / Sept

when we should.

• Small finger burns - better balance of age classes in vegetation.

1 zzz. Cobboboonee NP - fuel reduction burns

• Life and property • Flora and fauna

• Understand the value of fuel reduction burns to protect life and property.

• However, burns are too hot and in the wrong conditions.

• Cooler burns needed to protect birds and wildlife.



TOPICS OF INTEREST




1 aaaa. Cobboboonee NP - notification of fuel reduction burns

• Horse riding in safety and comfort

• Protect business

• Haven’t been told about burns in the past. • Need notification of burns in south of

Cobboboonee NP and north of FP as it’s a high risk to user groups operating rides during burns.

• To be notified by email and telephone of future burns in Cobboboonee NP.

2 bbbb. Nelson - fuel reduction burns and fire breaks

• Safety of township from fire

• Native vegetation

• Supports the township protection burns north of Nelson

• Wild flowers and orchids responding well to fuel reduction burns.

• Need for follow up weed work after mulching when creating fire breaks. Hard for volunteers to hand-pull weeds after mulching.

• Establish more than one access road and entry / exit to the township of Nelson.

•

2 cccc. Stringy’s Tree - impact of fuel reduction burns

• In 1973, a tree was dedicated to Stringy, who was in the Forest Commission for 39 years and has a long history in forestry and fire.

• Potential destruction of Stringy’s Tree • Concern that the tree will be burned in fuel

reduction burns.

• Save the whole corner from burns where Stringy’s Tree is located - corner of Cobboboonee Rd and T and W Rd.

• (Includes request from Stringy’s daughter, Kay Aldridge)


Theme: Additional Topics Topics include:

Management planning process


TOPICS OF INTEREST




4

dddd. Plan development process

• • Process worse than previous CNP and FP process - local input will be ignored. Plan decisions already made.

1 eeee. Management planning approach

• • Questions about the broadscape management plan - what does it all mean?

• Concern whether co-management will affect the usage of the land.

• Provided information materials to participant.

1

ffff. Previous management

• • Would like to know what happened to the previous DSE Management Plan.

•

1 gggg. Information about park management

• Good, current communication about park issues

• Not enough information is provided to the general public about local park issues.

• Feed information into the local ‘Nelson Notes’ about upcoming issues in parks.

4 hhhh. Collaboration between management agencies and park users

• Community engagement

• Perhaps some people working within (Discovery Bay Coastal Park and Lower Glenelg National Park) should learn more about the area and work together with people that enjoy being in the park.

• Listen to the people who will be affected.

•

2 iiii. Co-ordination between management agencies

• Good communication between resource managers

• Management of land and resources in the Nelson area is conducted by 5 agencies - PV, DSE, COM, Vicroads and Glenelg Shire. There is a regrettable lack of communication between them.

• Agencies should meet annually to discuss their Visions for resource management which would lead to more effective management and expenditure.

1 jjjj. Staff resources • Effective management • Double the number of rangers not reduce them.

• Bolster ranger numbers with Gunditj field service officers in training for promotion to ranger positions.


APPENDIX 1: PARTICIPANTS Following is a list of Open House participants. Please note that not all people who attended the Open Houses registered.

MACARTHUR Listed if would like to receive information about the draft plan. NAME ORGANISATION POSTAL ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS

1 Adam Bester GHCMA [email protected] 2 Sam Bruton GSWW 4 Clarke St, Narrawong 3 Dane Hall Portland 4X4 club [email protected] 4 John & Glenys Cayley Hamilton Field Naturalists Club PO Box 591, Hamilton [email protected] 5 Mark Todd [email protected] 6 Geoff Sharrock 1 Eumeralla St, Macarthur 7 Prue & John Hasler Four Wheel Drive Victoria PO Box 811, Mornington 3931 [email protected] 8 Peter Cool MADA 37 High St, Macarthur [email protected] 9 Alistair Fitzgerald 22 High St, Macarthur

10 John Bragg [email protected] 11 Colin Scott 119 Donovans Lane, Macarthur [email protected]

PORTLAND Listed if would like to receive information about the draft plan. NAME ORGANISATION POSTAL ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS

12 Helen Phillips [email protected] 13 Bill Golding GSWW 17 Bennett St, Portland, 3305 14 Sam Bruton GSWW Clarke St, Narrawong, 3285 15 Rod Barrett PO Box 335, Portland 16 Rob Bartlett GSWW PO Box 743, Portland [email protected] 17 Brian Sparrow 11 Stewart St, Portland [email protected]


18 Robert Hodgetts 646 Gorae Rd, Portland Paul Bennet 953 Nelson Rd, Portland

19 Gordon Stokes 13 Bentinck St, Portland 20 Stephen Douglass 12 Market Crt, Portland 21 Kelly & Vin Gannon 211 Hodgett Rd, Portland 22 Garry Milich 359 Foleys Rd, Portland 23 Doug Phillips PO Box 531, Portland 24 A. Pettinyill 81 Pettingyill Rd, Portland 25 Daniel Bennett 534 Foley's Rd, Gorae West 26 Neil Fay 96 Kennedys Rd, Cape Bridgewater 27 Ruth Graney Portland Field Naturalists 17 Boyer's Lane, Narrawong [email protected] 28 Ruth Graney Portland Field Naturalists 17 Boyer's Lane, Narrawong [email protected]

HEYWOOD Listed if would like to receive information about the draft plan. NAME ORGANISATION POSTAL ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS

29 Michelle Wilksch [email protected] 30 Rhonda Malseed [email protected] 31 Brouss Chambers [email protected] 32 Don Harris 4WD Box 243 / 3059 [email protected] 33 Wendy Ferguson Heywood Pony Club 188 Surryridge Gorae Rd, Heathmere [email protected] 34 Jennifer Tod Portland Adult Riders PO Box 1181, Portland [email protected] 35 Deanne Rioland Horses 8302 Princes Hwy, Allestree, 3305 ph. 03 5529 5392 36 Elizabeth Novotny Casterton Trail Riders PO Box 1185, Portland, 3305 [email protected] 37 T.Pohety 38 Gordie S. 39 Daniel L 40 Noah M 41 Jarod D 42 J. Gray 43 Alan Hart Promoting Heywood Committee PO Box 163, Heywood, 3304 44 another indescipherable 45 Sally Mallen [email protected]


46 Helen Williamson 14 Victoria Pd, Portland [email protected] 47 Kathryn Schurmann PO Box 980 Portland [email protected] 48 Angela Cleary 1071 Princes Hwy, Heathmere [email protected] 49 Kelly Gannon 211 Hodgetts Rd, Portland [email protected] 50 Elaine Evans Promoting Heywood Committee & Anglican Church PO Box 15, Heywood 3304 51 Joy Savill Train / Wagon, Promoting Heywood PO Box 91, Heywood 52 Bill Falkenberg Vic Apiarists Balmoral 53 David Cleary Portland Heywood Field & Game 89 Crowes Rd, Portland

CASTERTON Listed if would like to receive information about the draft plan. NAME ORGANISATION POSTAL ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS

54 Alistair ? Dergholm 55 Matthew Butt Winda Mara 21 Scott St, Heywood 56 Jenna Bamblett Winda Mara 21 Scott St, Heywood 57 Gordon Dhada Winda Mara 21 Scott St, Heywood 58 K. Saunders Community House Hamilton 59 Peter Barrand Birdlife Warrnambool [email protected] 60 Rhonda Barrand Birdlife Warrnambool [email protected] 61 Brian Murrell Anglican Society Casterton PO Box 26, Casterton, 3311 [email protected] 62 Harry Saunders Winda Mara [email protected] 63 Michael Day Winda Mara [email protected] 64 Joshua Fergusson Winda Mara [email protected] 65 Bruce Cross Glenelg Shire [email protected]


NELSON Listed if would like to receive information about the draft plan. NAME ORGANISATION POSTAL ADDRESS EMAIL ADDRESS

66 Sam Bruton 4 Clarke St, Narrawong 67 Cheryl Carson [email protected] 68 Leila Huebner Nelson Coastcare 150 Forest Rd, Nelson [email protected] 69 Trena Mullan Nelson Coastcare ? [email protected] 70 June & Denis Healy [email protected] 71 Sharon Kelsey Glenelg Shire Council 72 Lenny Cooper Glenelg Hopkins CMA 79 French St [email protected] 73 L&C Stevens Invercargill, NZ 74 Keith Whitthead 79 Parkers Rd, Berringa, Vic 75 Talara Harrison 60 Lindsay St, Heywood 76 Becky McCann DENR (SA) and Nature Glenelg Trust [email protected] 77 Trevor McKinnon C/0 Nelson Post Office 78 Andrew Hossack Nelson Notes C/0 Nelson Post Office [email protected] 79 Cindy Hossack Nelson Notes C/0 Nelson Post Office [email protected] 80 Michael Rees Glenelg Hopkins CMA [email protected]


APPENDIX 2: STATION LEADERS The following Station Leaders were in attendance at the Open Houses for a minimum of one session, with some present at all sessions: Parks Victoria

Bernadette Hoare Brian Doolan Brian McKinnon Daniel Deppler Daniel Sullivan Dave Ryan David Newton Don Childs Don Tumney Gary Bellesini Graham Parkes James Hackel Jason Walker (Gunditjmara) Linda Greenwood Anne van de Meene Lucas Bannam (Gunditjmara) Marcel Hoog Antink Peter Hill Stephanie Cloutier Mary Lou Doyle Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation / Budj Bim Council

Damein Bell Denise Lovett Aunty Eileen Alberts Uncle Ken Saunders Levi Lovett Tom Day Dept. Sustainability and Environment

Andy Govanstone Jarrod Hayse Jeremy Moloney Marlon Parsons (Gunditjmara) Richard Hill Stephen Balharrie Wesley Burns Context Pty Ltd

Aron Paul Chris Johnstone Paulette Wallace

Station leaders at Heywood Open House

Station leaders at Nelson Open House


APPENDIX 3: STATION LEADER RESPONSE SHEET The form below was completed by Station Leaders as a record of conversations that took place with Open House participants.

OPEN HOUSE: Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara South West Management Plan RESPONSE SHEET Location Date STATION NUMBER STATION LEADER

No. of participants in the conversation

TOPICS OF INTEREST

What do they VALUE about the planning area (in relation to the

topics raised)?


PRACTICES

SUGGESTED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES (if any)

Open House Findings Report ‐ July 2012 by Insight Communication 57

APPENDIX 4: COMMUNITY SURVEY FORM

Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara Healthy Country, Healthy People

South West Management Plan

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SURVEY

Gunditjmara Traditional Owners, Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment are partners in planning for the following parks, reserves, Gunditjmara

community owned properties and Indigenous Protected Areas in South West Victoria.

Mt Eccles, Lower Glenelg, Mount Richmond and Cobboboonee National Parks — Cape Nelson, Dergholm and Mount Napier State Parks — Discovery Bay Coastal Park — Discovery Bay Marine National Park —

Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reserve — Portland North Cemetery Historic Area — Crawford River Regional Park — 22 Conservation Reserves — 106 Natural Features Reserves — Cobboboonee Forest Park — Lake Condah, Kurtonitj and Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Areas — Allambie — Muldoons — Lake Condah

Mission — Peters — Lake Gorae

1. What’s most important to you within the planning area?_________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________

2. Which aspects of management of the planning area are most important to you? Is it biodiversity, cultural values, recreation, fire management, others?___________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________


3. How well do you feel the planning area is being managed at the moment? Circle how you would score it out of ten?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ☺

4. How do you think management could be improved?_____________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

A Vision for Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara’

South West Planning Area

‘Ngootyoong Gunditj, Ngootyoong Mara’ means Healthy Country, Healthy People, which is what we want for the planning area. There are different landscapes – Stone Country, Sea Country,

River/Forest Country and Forest Country. They are all important and connect with each other and people. We all have a right and responsibility to care for Country, working together with respectful

conversations to achieve our aspirations for Country. We will work together to restore and improve ecosystems to become intact and resilient. We recognise the connections between people

and Country; between communities and Country – past, present and future. Forever.

5. Do you feel this Vision represents the ideal future for management? Circle where you would you score it out of ten?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ☺

6. How do you think the Vision could be improved? _______________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________

7. Did you know that the Gunditjmara name for Mount Eccles is Budj Bim? What do you think of changing the name of the park to Budj Bim National Park? ______ _________________________________________________________

Thank-you for your time. Please place your completed form in a Survey Box before leaving.


APPENDIX 5: SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY SURVEY RESPONSES 17 community surveys were submitted, the majority during the Open House sessions and three later by email or post. Please note that not all respondents completed all questions. A submission was also received at one of the sessions and several letters. Please note that submissions for the development of the management plan are generally dealt with in a separate process to the Open House Findings Report. However, the contents of information presented at the Open Houses have been included in the summary below. 1. Values in the planning area Tourism, Recreation and Access • Access, including road maintenance x 2 people • Access for elderly generation and disabled people • Current assets, such as camp grounds and community areas. • Recreation - being able to travel through these areas and participate in activities which happen now and

then; also being able to collect firewood without having somebody looking over your shoulder. • Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Lower Glenelg / Nelson

o Glenelg River x 2 people o Sea viewing at lower Glenelg estuary o Access between beach / carpark and ocean / river mouth (Nelson) o Short walks along the Glenelg River o Emergency entry and exit to the Glenelg River estuary area for when river in flood

Natural Values • Diversity and abundance of animals and plants x 4 people • Protection of animals and plants from invasion by feral species. • Maintaining an ecological balance - where activities in parks are compatible with protecting values and

don’t compromise them. • Discovery Bay Coastal Park and Lower Glenelg x 2 people • Discovery Bay CP / Glenelg River - restoration of former biodiversity values (ecological characters) of

the entire Long Swamp wetlands complex and Glenelg estuary wetlands within Discovery Bay Coastal Park.

Cultural heritage / Name change of Mt Eccles NP • Historic and cultural sites • Historic Mt Eccles in Budj Bim National Park (NB. for 40 years rangers have come from Macarthur) • Complete acknowledgement from all levels of government that the land proposed for inclusion in the

management plan (and throughout the whole of Australia) belongs to Indigenous people. Fire management • Protect native plants and animals from fire. • Fire management


2. Priorities for management within the planning area • Bluff question. All important. Tourism, Recreation and Access • Recreation x 4 people • Accessibility by people of all ages and abilities. x 2 people • Access to parks, forests, walks and reserves, such as GSWW • Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Lower Glenelg / Nelson

Enhancement of tourism; activities and maintenance of our tourist information centre “hub” in Nelson x 2 people

Rubbish management in Nelson-x 2 people Access to the Glenelg River for fishing

Natural Values • Biodiversity x 7 people

Biodiversity and a healthy environment are essential to our wellbeing and the economy. • An interactive, holistic approach is needed: biodiversity retention and restoration is the primary adjunct

to all other subordinate social and economic values. Healthy Country, Healthy People vision embraces this concept, that the environment's health is the basis and pivotal indicator for all healthier cultural values;

• Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Lower Glenelg / Nelson Weed control, including clearing of Coastal Wattle in the Nelson / Discovery Bay Coastal Park

area x 3 people Care of our beautiful ‘Bochara’ Glenelg River Secure Ramsar accreditation for Eel Creek and Long Swamp.

Cultural heritage / Name change of Mt Eccles NP • Cultural values x 2 people • Address the lack of acknowledgement and compensation for the seizure of land from the Gunditjmara

people. Governments to admit to trespassing on Gunditjmara people’s land (and the land of all Indigenous peoples in Australia).

Fire management • Fire management needs improvement x 3 people • Fire management in Nelson


3. Satisfaction with current management approach

Rating 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average No. of votes 1 1 2 2 4 2 2 4.4

Please note: • A comment from a survey respondent that a 5/10 management rating relates to their satisfaction with PV’s policy and approach not staffs’ individual performance. • These ratings include a 0 score for fire management and an 8 score for biodiversity management by the same survey respondent. 4. Management issues and suggested strategies

Topic Issues / Concerns Management Strategies Tourism, Recreation and Access

Access • Permit ongoing access to all areas for all people. Interpretation • More developed interpretation of vegetation types, flora / fauna and history of the

area, perhaps at public access points, eg. GSWW.

Recreation facilities • Maintain and enhance current assets, eg. camp grounds and community areas. Nelson Visitor Information Centre

• All other areas that I visit throughout the country are doing everything they can to support and expand their visitor info centres and at the minute there appears to be a cloud over the continuance of ours in Nelson, mostly because Park is heading to an untested online booking service. Our info centre in Nelson is the coastal gateway to Victoria and our parks, and visitor numbers support a manned centre also supported by the recent Glenelg Sustainable Settlement Strategy document. This says “…In conjunction with the DSE continued improvements to the Community Centre and Visitor Information Centre…” The continued manned info centre is also supported by Nelson Tourism, Nelson Committee of Management and Nelson Progress Association and Correspondence has been generated to Parks, to date no response.

• Retain our Nelson visitor information centre as a matter of priority.


Topic Issues / Concerns Management Strategies

Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Genelg River / Nelson - rubbish bins

• The withdrawal of all the rubbish bins from the Parks and the associated problems that has precipitated, ie. more rubbish in the parks and in the Nelson township. x 2 people

• Maintain rubbish bins in parks - to see how other agencies address this problem you only have to visit Parks NSW and most if not all their parks and camping areas have more than adequate skip bins complete with recyclable options. Can only imagine a slight adjustment in fees to cater for this service.

• If don’t want bins in the camping areas, could locate at parks’ main entrances (PV not to pass on responsibility for rubbish to Shire - park users filling up Nelson township’s bins instead of parks’ bins. Seen as cost shifting)

Genelg River / Nelson - river access

• Lower Glenelg to have walking track to river and sea. • A useable walking track, short walk to the beach from the

carpark to the ocean / river mouth. This would be a tourist attraction.

• More access to the river with jetties for fishing

• I would like a track put in from estuary toilet block to river mouth and sea to create a path between two areas to encourage user movement, eg. surf beach to river mouth. This would also create access for emergency vehicles. Could be a sand track with posts and wires, eg. Yambuk walk. Being a member of the Men’s Shed in Nelson, we would be interested in doing assistance work on the track.

Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Genelg River / Nelson - equitable access

• Balance the protection of the environment with the need to ensure the next generation see it as important and can’t do this if exclude young people from sections of the parks. Need to continue to engage young people.

• Could have special permits for access for disabled people, eg. could be older or younger people - anyone that qualifies for the permit system.

Natural Values

Biodiversity • Protect native species and their habitat. x 4 people • See also comments under ‘Fire management’

• Increase research on what flora and fauna exists and where areas are, and use this to promote your management, eg. this area is sugar glider habitat (PV management has allowed this colony to reach sustainable levels).

Weeds • More weed control x 2 people • Implement strategic result-based weed control - particularly on Cape Bridgewater (Kykuyu)



Feral animals • Keep on top of feral animals. Discovery Bay Coastal Park / Genelg River / Nelson

• PV’s general lack of participation, engagement with community groups; dismissive attitudes towards community groups (e.g., Nelson Coastcare) in efforts to improve environmental values within Nelson and surrounding environs;

• lack of concern about weeds and follow-up control/eradication measures e.g. areas immediately adjacent to LGNP Nelson works office (includes DSE managed areas) and Rubbish Tip environs (Tip proper is Glenelg Shire’s responsibility); x 4 people

• lack of engagement and informative communication with Nelson community regarding PV activities and projects (information symmetry);

• negative and apathetic attitudes towards managing/controlling/eradicating weeds (principally) and feral animals in areas under their management; up until recently, broadly dismissive of need to alter management techniques to halt continued weed invasions in DBCP or other means by which to restore Long Swamp’s ecological values;

• a generally pervasive culture of exclusiveness alienates Parks personnel from general community. This contrasts with SA NMR’s active community engagement at all levels in which environmental knowledge and awareness has been considerably increased (i.e., capacity building);

• lack of PV and DSE communication with community at large through e.g., not contributing articles in local Nelson Notes, helping to conduct workshops; Some local PV personnel have stated they don’t read Nelson Notes. In contrast, Glenelg Hopkins CMA regularly contribute to Nelson Notes, forwards CMA newsletters on-line and keeps in touch by personal communication and visits to many Nelson residents.

• Progressive removal of aggressively invasive woody weeds and Coast Wattle in sensitive habitat areas e.g., wetland peripherial sectors dominated previously by Woolly Tea Tree (Melaleuca lanigera ; x 4 people

• Changes to the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 regulations (and Flora and Fauna Conservation Act’s schedules) to alter present nomenclatural status of several native plants, to woody weeds of Regional Significance including: Coast Wattle (Acacia lonifolia subsp. sophorae) and Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum); x 2 people

• Systematic, progressively staged projects aimed at removing/controlling all township environs woody weeds, including WoNS and and creepers e.g., Western Australian Bluebell (Billardiera heterophylla syn.Sollya heterophylla). This eradication model embraces roadside reserves, river-bank habitats and eventually, private properties. The aim is to remove Nelson as a weed dissemination source to surrounding parks and public lands;

• Partnership of government agencies, local communities to eradicate Nelson township rabbits (a continuous point-infestation source to surrounding public lands, agricultural areas). This should include changes to DPI jurisdictions;

• Systematic approach to feral animal eradication from DBCP utilising partnerships involving Glenelg Alliance, Nelson Coastcare volunteers;

• Restoration of Lake Monibeong overflows (mostly seasonal/episodical) to Eel Creek. Noble’s Rock’s non-legitimate, man-made ocean outfall to be blocked off. Retention of all water inflows from unconfined aquifers (much reduced from hinterland land management practice changes of past decade) is vital to arrest decline of wetland values. Existing Government bores throughout DBCP need to be regularly checked for water levels and records


Nelson Coastcare also considerably relies on SA NMR and DENR for booklets, information fact sheets and direct input by their personnel to help educate volunteers gain environmental knowledge and expertise;

made freely - and easily - available. Infra-red thermal imaging of DBCP karst coastline (on-shore and off-shore), integral to understanding water upwelling point- and dispersal-sites for evaluating best integrative management practices, is a project that should be given priority status.

• Scientific data collation to be systemised in collections and records. A benchmark of biodiversity values and assets is urgently needed for effecting appropriate management planning. All data to be freely available to public and not just exclusive to journal publications (e.g., CSIRO journals);

• Local Parks Victoria personnel need to keep their regional senior officers up-dated about all on-ground environmental changes. Accurate, updated local reports are vital to formulating appropriate and effective management practices;

• Parks and DSE personnel attend government-run workshops and forums to learn, appreciate and put into practice the underlying principles of collaboration, communication and co-operation to instill the advantages of partnerships and the need to harness all interested stakeholders to recovering degraded environments such as our Long Swamp wetlands. I strongly advocate Geoff Brown, facilitator and educator, as used by Coastcare Victoria and GHCMA in their community and professional workshops and forums to generate positive impacts in this regard;



Cultural heritage / Name change of Mt Eccles NP

Culture and history • Identify and prove cultural and historic sites Land rights for Aboriginal people

• White people and governments in Australia have denied that they have stolen land from Aboriginal people. For over 214 years, they have committed an act of trespass, which is a crime under Common Law. This includes Conspiracy to Trespass, Continual Trespass and Trespass for Wrongful Death.

• It is time that Australia’s Aboriginal people received appropriate compensation for what has been stolen from them, and the pain and suffering caused.

• The actions of Australian governments for trespassing on Aboriginal people’s land should be trialled in the International Court for an independent assessment of the compensation that is due.

Fire management

Fuel reduction burns • Less burning, more focus on respecting biodiversity. x 6 people. Additional comments include: Promote the variation of wildflowers, not the sterile

monoculture that follows wildfires Most of the state is cleared and forests are not the fire

risk some feel they area. Forests appear to develop into a kind of mono-culture.

My recent walk through the Cobboboonee proved very disappointing - no fauna, no avi-fauna in any numbers - why? Burning appears to be political not based on scientific research. I am totally opposed to current methods.

Fire management at present is detrimental to the whole ecosystem and is not giving Victorians value for their tax dollar.

A greater emphasis needs to be placed on the planning of fuel reduction burns to embrace ecological values as an integral part of the planning process.

“Stop the burning”. Massive danger to the health of community members - especially elderly and infants. Increase in asthma. Burns habitat trees that take 150 years to form hollows. No detailed scientific knowledge on the effects of regular burns.

• More resources directed at prevention of fires, and less or no controlled burns to be undertaken.

• More education of the public about biodiversity and reduce the “fear” of fire.

• Implement a scientifically based fire regime. • Consult with stakeholders, including field naturalists and others

with expertise, before selecting burn areas. • Conduct a scientific study of present burning practices to discover

the full effects on flora and fauna - how many animals are incinerated by fuel reduction burns: What plants grow back after burns and will they germinate without burns? x 2 people




Fire management • Improve fire management. x 3 people • In my observation, this fire management has not taken place.

Those in power want to hope that the Cobboboonee does not flare up. Need more fire management. People in the city know nothing of the bush.

• Establish more than one access road and entry / exit to the township of Nelson.

Other Collaboration and communication between management agencies and park users

• Perhaps some people working within (Discovery Bay Coastal Park and Lower Glenelg National Park) should learn more about the area and learn to work together with people that enjoy being in the park.

• Listen to the people who will be affected, not just the “squeaky wheel” mentality of the Field Naturalist movement.

• Listen to people. The locals know this area better than those that have learnt it in the class room.

Co-ordination between management agencies

• Management of land and resources in the Nelson area is conducted by 5 agencies - PV, DSE, COM, Vicroads and Glenelg Shire. There is a regrettable lack of communication between them.

• Agencies should meet annually to discuss their Visions for natural resource management which would lead to more effective management and expenditure.

Staff resources • Double the number of rangers not reduce them. • Bolster ranger numbers with Gunditj field service officers in training for promotion to ranger positions.


5. Satisfaction with current draft Vision Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average No. of votes

2

2

2

2

2

2

7

6. Feedback on the draft Vision Improvements • More co-operation from PV and DSE - a willingness to engage in conversations with the locals

and tourists in the towns and national parks.

• The Vision is only limited by the degree of investment in bringing it to fruition. Also, the local case-by-case histories and stories must not be overlooked in any whole of landscape modification of management practices. It is vital that local data is fed into, and given due consideration, in the assurance that the local values are not dissipated into a homologous recipe of generality. I admit to being conservative, not knowing as yet what intimate details are involved in the Vision.

• The priority is to educate coastal communities, particularly retiring baby-boomers, for the need to understand and gain knowledge about their local biological assets, with the assistance, interactive support of all government agencies in a 'mutual obligation' concept;

• There is a need to make knowledge more freely available. Depending principally on IT can have adverse affects by creating a disconnect between government agencies and communities. For example, the imminent on-line central booking for tourists may create a drop in visitor numbers. Another concern is the disconnect between nature and technology in which children no longer experience nature. The Vision needs to embrace these impediments to people experiencing nature if there is to be a future where nature's role is knowledgeably understood and ecological sustainability and resilience can be secured.

• More co-operation with local people.

• Having an Indigenous name makes me think it is aimed at Aboriginal values.

• Ensure biodiversity is the main focus and drives policy.

• Increase the number of rangers through a field service officers’ “Hands On, Hands Dirty” program.

Approval

• Very close to the mark - hard to improve on


7. Approval of name change of Mt Eccles NP

Rating Yes No Alternative No. of votes 6 4 2 Comments Yes • The least that can be done is to acknowledge traditional owners’ place names in their historical

context. Budj Bim is giving recognition to these traditional occupants and is an essential component toward reconciliation.

• Very receptive to this. • Historic Mt Eccles in Budj Bim National Park (at tourism tweak - “The home of the koala”) No • No, I only know this as Mt Eccles. Need a compromise. • No. I have never heard of this name. • No! It won’t make much difference. I’ll probably still refer to it as Mt Eccles. • Leave as is. Alternative • Keep both names in recognising European heritage (Mt Eccles Budj Bim National Park) • I think (name change) would be fine but as people are used to called it Mt Eccles, perhaps have

it written alongside in smaller letters, ie. Budj Bim (Mt Eccles).

Documents

SW Mngt Plan - Open House Findings Report July 2012 _final_