Parks Victoria Annual Report 2000-01

P ARKS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001

Chairman’s ForewordPeter BuzzardChairman, Parks VictoriaThe Hon. Sherryl Garbutt MPMinister for Environment andConservationDear Minister,On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to submit the fifth Parks Victoria Annual Report to you.This year, Parks Victoria continued to deliver high-quality parks services on behalf of the State.The skills, dedication and commitment of the staff of Parks Victoria ensure that this work is carriedout with a high level of expertise, borne out once again by the organisation’s achievements this year,particularly in the field of environmental management.Of course, in this International Year of Volunteers, Parks Victoria is delighted to acknowledge the supportand dedication of the many volunteers who offer their time to help preserve and enhance our preciousparklands. The assistance, expertise and passion of the individuals and hundreds of groups who wereinvolved in a range of projects in our parks have been integral to our achievements.In July 2000, Dr Geoff Wescott and Pam Robinson were appointed to the Board, and Don Saunders wasappointed in February 2001.There are many achievements described in the annual report and I would urge you to take special noteof the significant ones highlighted on pages 4 – 7 of the report.Finally I would like to thank you, Minister, for your support and close involvement with Parks Victoriaduring the year.Peter BuzzardChairmanParks VictoriaSeptember 20011

International Year of VolunteersVolunteers make an outstanding contribution to a strong,cohesive society and embody the best of Australia’s culturaltraditions.As part of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers, ParksVictoria celebrated and recognised the contribution of parkvolunteers and the staff who support them with a series ofevents throughout the State. A near record number ofvolunteers participated in Clean Up Australia Day, 50volunteers in 15 parks successfully ran the Camp Hostprograms across 19 sites, while volunteers from 17 groupscontributed to the success of the Parks Festival at Albert Parkin May.During the year, volunteers provided more than 17,500 daysof assistance in a diverse range of projects across Victoria.While Parks Victoria facilitates some of the community andvolunteer programs, many others are started and managedexternally by committed and concerned groups of peoplewith some Parks Victoria support.The contribution made by park volunteers and the supportthey provide to Parks Victoria staff is truly impressive.Volunteers play an invaluable supportive role in removing andcontrolling pest plants and animals, revegetating sites,enhancing four-wheel drive tracks, conserving historic andcultural sites, carrying out surveying, monitoring and researchactivities, helping out at visitor centres and information desks,educating visitors, lending a hand at special events, takingpart in interpretation, guiding and Camp Host programs andhelping out with the production of publications, generaladministration and fundraising.Above: Families volunteer to plant trees at Jells Park.2

Above: Dedicated volunteers helping maintain tracks in Baw Baw National Park. Below from left: Young volunteers at Button Grass Nature Walk, Bunyip State Park,help to plant some trees; Davina Young, Pamela Todd and Ernie Matthews liven up Werribee Park.3

Key AchievementsClockwise from left: South Channel Fort; Minister Garbutt opens the new visitor facility at the Twelve Apostles; State of the Parks Report;The Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility.State of the Parks 2000 ReportParks Victoria achieved a major milestone with the publicrelease of the State of the Parks 2000 Report, which providesa comprehensive picture of the overall environmentalcondition of the parks system. The report representedthe culmination of more than three years’ work.Indigenous Employment ProgramWe employed seven new rangers and three team leaders inthe first phase of the Indigenous Employment Program.Indigenous Cross-Cultural TrainingIn an innovation that was widely applauded, prominent eldersand members of Victoria’s Aboriginal communities conducteda cross-cultural awareness training program for 150 staffacross the State.Seasonal Ranger ProgramTo support and enhance the delivery of visitor services duringsummer, Parks Victoria employed 48 seasonal rangers, manyof them in regional areas.Twelve Apostles Visitor FacilityThe Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility was completed andofficially opened. Built to strict environmental criteria, thecentre will be a focus for the one million visitors a year whovisit this natural wonder.South Channel Fort Jetty ReconstructionThe reconstruction of this Port Phillip Bay heritage icon wascompleted in time for summer, giving visitors access to thefort for the first time since the closure in 1997 of the old jetty.4

Left: Minister Garbutt launches the Werribee Precinct Region of Excellence project atShadowfax Winery, Werribee Mansion.Below: Three of the Kookaburra Award winners – Dr Malcolm Calder, Leon Costermans andDr David Ashton.San Remo JettyThe Minister officially opened the rebuilt $1.5 million SanRemo Jetty and Pelican Walk, which have greatly improvedforeshore access and harbour facilities.Hooded Plover ProtectionFox control, sea spurge control and population monitoringof Hooded Plovers along 30 kilometres of the MorningtonPeninsula coastline will help protect this species.Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery ProgramThe Helmeted Honeyeater Team joined forces with theDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) andHealesville Sanctuary to reintroduce this critically endangeredbird species to the Diamond Creek floodplain in BunyipState Park.Kookaburra AwardsParks Victoria established the Kookaburra Awards torecognise and acknowledge outstanding individuals who areinvolved in preserving, enhancing and expanding Victoria’sparks system. This year’s winners were Dr David Ashton,Dr Malcolm Calder, Eileen Collins, Leon Costermans,Jane Calder and David Tatnall.Werribee Precinct Region of ExcellenceParks Victoria led a strategic partnership with theGovernment, the private sector and the community toproduce a strategy for developing Werribee into a centreof excellence in conservation management, a major tourist,education and recreation destination and a focus for manysignificant annual heritage and cultural events.5

Clockwise from left: There is a great diversity of environmental research projects undertaken as part of the Research Partners Program;The gentle art of koala relocation in Mt Eccles National Park.Research Partners ProgramSince its inception in May 2000, 52 targeted environmentalresearch projects have been established under the ParksVictoria Research Partners Program. Program partnersinclude the University of Ballarat, Arthur Rylah Institute forEnvironmental Research, the University of Melbourne, DeakinUniversity and the Australian Research Centre for UrbanEcology at the Royal Botanic Gardens.Anglesea Heathlands Private SectorManagement PartnershipParks Victoria will work in partnership with Alcoa to managethe 7000-hectare Anglesea Heathland, which adjoinsAngahook-Lorne State Park. Under the agreement Alcoawill fund a management plan and ground works.Metropolitan Open Space StrategyParks Victoria completed the draft strategy for themetropolitan area. The Linking People and Spaces Strategyis a 20-year plan that envisions a partnership approach withlocal government, State and community land managers toguide sustainable open space initiatives.City of Greater Geelong – Study of OpenSpace NetworksParks Victoria, in partnership with the City of GreaterGeelong, developed a Study of Open Space Networks.The study promotes the importance of open space andemphasises trail linkages. Opportunities for improving andexpanding the shared trail network were identified, as wellas a prioritised program for implementation.Koala RelocationParks Victoria continued its koala relocation program toreduce environmental damage on Snake and French Islandsand at Mt Eccles National Park.6

Clockwise from left: The Metropolitan Open Space Strategy: Linking People and Spaces will guide sustainable open space initiatives;Minister Garbutt launches the Wilsons Promontory National Park Draft Management Plan.Wilsons Promontory National Park DraftManagement PlanThis draft plan, released for community consultation inDecember 2000, takes a holistic approach to managing themuch loved “Prom” by integrating Tidal River’s managementwith that of the rest of the park.Ramsar Strategic Directions StatementThe Minister for Environment and Conservation launchedthe first three in a series of draft Ramsar documents outlininga world-leading integrated approach to managing andprotecting wetland sites. The three sites are Western DistrictLakes, Corner Inlet and Western Port.Rosebud ForeshoreParks Victoria completed the Rosebud Landscape MasterPlan, which will guide future environmental and visitormanagement and infrastructure improvements.Directions in Historic Places ManagementThis ground-breaking draft report outlines Parks Victoria’sstrategic long-term heritage conservation goals, which willlead to more effective management and reporting ofhistoric places.Lower Yarra River Future Directions andRecreational GuidelinesParks Victoria developed guidelines for the recreational useof the Lower Yarra. We have begun implementing the plan’srecommendations and have drafted an Action Plan.Westgate Park Stormwater Catchmentand Retention SystemStage one was completed, which included the completion ofa consultant’s report on the wetland design and subsequentearth works and pump installation.7

1 Chief Executive’s MessageIn this our fifth Annual Report – which falls during theInternational Year of Volunteers – I would like to take theopportunity to recognise the marvellous contribution thatvolunteers make to the effective management of our parksacross the State.Volunteers have contributed to a plethora of projects acrossthe State and the following examples are just a few of thehighlights: at Baw Baw National Park, volunteers helped tocontrol willow, an insidious pest plant; at Lerderderg StatePark, the Friends group built information shelters using aCentenary of Federation Community Grant; and at Seawindsnursery, volunteers propagated more than 22,000 plants, thebenefits of which can be seen throughout the Peninsula.Parks Victoria confronted many diverse challenges throughoutthe year. The majority of these could be addressed throughtried and true methods but some required an innovativeapproach, none more so than the issue of managing smallercamp sites in parks as disparate as Wyperfeld andCroajingolong National Parks and Upper Yarra Reservoir Park.To complement the rangers’ supervision of these sites wedeveloped the volunteer Camp Host Program. In anotherfine example of volunteerism, Camp Hosts “keep an eye” on19 of these sites by acting as a contact point for rangers andvisitors and by providing visitor information services. In return,they gain practical experience in many facets of parkmanagement while staying at some of the most beautifulplaces on earth.Protecting and conserving the natural environment in ourparks and reserves will always be our primary role. Much ofour energy this year was focused on finding better ways tofulfil this role by prioritising the allocation of our finitefinancial and human resources. To address these limitations,a new three-year planning cycle was developed that wouldallow us to strike the best balance between urgent shorttermneeds and long-term challenges. Underpinning thisplanning cycle was the State of the Parks 2000 report, acomprehensive review of our parks’ natural values and theirdistribution statewide. Minister Garbutt released the report,an Australian first, at Wilsons Promontory National Park inDecember last year.It was appropriate that the Minister chose to launch thisacclaimed report at the Prom, as it also gave her anopportunity to announce the release of a draft integratedmanagement plan for this, arguably our best knownNational Park. This environmental initiative, flagged in theGovernment’s policy, ensures that in the future WilsonsPromontory National Park, including Tidal River, will bemanaged holistically, recognising the primacy of protectingthe natural environment, while providing an enjoyable andrewarding experience for our visitors.The desire to promote visitor safety and enjoyment drove oneof our largest capital works projects in recent times – the newvisitor facilities on private land adjacent to the TwelveApostles site in Port Campbell National Park. Constructedwith environmental sustainability as its hallmark, the building,carpark and new walkway passing under the Great OceanRoad will ensure that the almost one million people who visitthis site each year will not only have an unforgettable andsafe experience, but will also create minimum impact on theprecious and fragile land abutting the coastline. The facilitywas built for future growth and will play a major role inensuring that this site remains one of those must-seeattractions for tourists.8

Yarra Ranges National Park.It has been a year of considerable achievement, marked byseveral innovative approaches to park management, someof which I have highlighted. All of us at Parks Victoriaacknowledge that our progress is only possible through thehelp of our many partners. These include the many Friendsgroups, local government and State Government departmentsand agencies, many organisations from the private sector,academia, the media and the medical profession.No other project during this year better exemplifies the benefitsof working together with a shared aim than the plan tomaximise the potential of the Werribee region. Parks Victoriaplayed a lead role in bringing together representatives fromappropriate groups within the private and public sector toexamine the potential of this region. Werribee already hasmany positive aspects to build on. With its natural assets –including the bay and the Werribee River – and its location justa short drive or train ride from the city, its potential is unlimited.A project team has been established to ensure that many of theideas identified by the partners will eventually provide realbenefits to the people of Werribee and all Victorians.This year I also wish to recognise the increasing importanceof our partnership with Aboriginal groups. Successful parkmanagement is only possible through a multifacetedapproach, including the protection of significant Aboriginalcultural sites. By involving Aborigines in our planning andoperational aspects, by initiating a program of cross-culturaltraining for a large proportion of our employees and byemploying Aboriginal rangers across the State, we areensuring that our parks are managed for all Australians.Looking to the future, I would like to flag just a fewpossibilities that will have a significant positive impact onour society. As an organisation committed to protecting thenatural treasures in our environment, we look forward to theeventual inevitability of a declaration of a Marine NationalParks system. We are also excited about the recommendationby the Environment Conservation Council to create five newNational and State Parks to protect this State’s remaining Box-Ironbark forests.Finally, the range of resources we manage offer numerousopportunities to build networks that are vital to maintaininga civil society. Many of us at Parks Victoria will be directingmuch of our energy into supporting the State Government’sintention to increase our social capital by ensuring theseopportunities are firmly grasped.Mark StoneChief ExecutiveSeptember 20019

Corporate GovernanceBoard of MembersThe Board has ultimate responsibility for governance of ParksVictoria and determines its strategies and policies. The Boardcomprises nine members, including a Chairman andDeputy Chairman. The positions of Chairman and ChiefExecutive are established under the Parks Victoria Act 1998.Members are appointed by the Governor in Council, on theMinister’s recommendation, for no longer than three years,but are eligible for re-appointment. The Board operates inaccordance with the provisions of the Parks Victoria Act 1998.Members provide a disclosure of interests to the BoardSecretary. In the event of a conflict of interest or a direct orindirect pecuniary interest in any matter before the Board,members must disclose their interest and may not be involvedin discussion or voting.The Board directs and monitors the business on behalf of theMinister and the State Government of Victoria. The Boarddelegates day-to-day responsibility for operations andadministration to the Chief Executive and his Executive Team.Board meetings are held monthly. Members participate in sitestudy tours in addition to regular monthly detailed briefingsfrom senior management. These briefings enhance themembers’ knowledge of Parks Victoria’s business and assistthem in assessing the performance of senior managers.Chief ExecutiveThe Board appoints the Chief Executive in consultation withthe Minister. The Chief Executive’s performance is reviewed bythe Board on a regular basis.Board CommitteesThe Board has established four committees, comprising:• Audit and Risk Management Committee, which meets fourtimes a year and comprises Kathryn Fagg (Chair), PeterBuzzard, Jane Gilmour, Jane Tongs and Geoff Wescott;• Natural and Cultural Values Committee, which meets fourtimes a year and comprises Jane Gilmour (Chair), KathrynFagg, Don Saunders and Geoff Wescott;•Visitor and Recreation Values Committee, which meets fourtimes a year and comprises Lachlan Campbell (Chair), PeterGalbally, Pam Robinson, Don Saunders and Jane Tongs; and• Remuneration and Human Resources Committee, whichmeets as required and comprises Peter Galbally (Chair),Lachlan Campbell and Pam Robinson.10

Kinglake National Park.Internal ControlThe Board has overall responsibility for setting the policiesand internal control framework, with the Audit and RiskManagement Committee focusing on detailed aspects ofinternal control. Corporate policies are reviewed regularlyand are available to all employees through the intranet.Major new policies and amendments to existing policies areapproved by the Board and communicated to employees.Occupational Health and SafetyThe Executive Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Committeecomprises a Regional Manager as Chairman, a GeneralManager and both senior management and organisationalhealth and safety representatives. The committee meetsquarterly and is responsible for developing and implementingan effective OHS management system.Risk ManagementThe Board has overall responsibility for risk management.Parks Victoria has adopted a strategic approach to managingrisk and has formulated a Risk Management Plan thatprovides the processes and framework for managing riskin a consistent manner.11

The BoardPeter BuzzardFCA, FAICD(Chairman)Partner, Ernst and YoungMr Buzzard is a fellow ofthe Institute of CharteredAccountants and hasextensive financial, auditand managerial experiencein a wide range of publicand private Australian andinternational organisations.For much of his career,Mr Buzzard has focused onserving clients in the media,entertainment andtelecommunications sector.He has been a director ofan international tradinggroup and was theFinancial Director of theVictorian Division of theLife Education organisationin its formative years.Lachlan CampbellMr Campbell is aviticulturist/horticulturalistwith strong rural tiesand a hands-oninvolvement in landmanagement. A pastpartner of a landscapearchitect firm, he alsobrings to the Board asolid understandingand appreciation ofgood design and theenvironmental aspectsof planning. He is involvedwith a number of regionaldevelopment committeesand has a strongcommitment to regionalcommunities. Mr Campbellis a past participant in arural leadership programand is a partner in anexpanding vineyardenterprise, which seeshim well placed to providevaluable input into ruraland regional issues.Kathryn FaggBE (Hons), M.Comm(Hons)(Deputy Chairman)Vice President Fulfilmentand Market Solutions,BHP SteelWith wide experiencegained throughoutAustralia and New Zealand,Ms Fagg brings to theBoard diverse skills gainedthrough senior strategicroles held in the petroleum,consultancy and bankingand manufacturingindustries. Ms Fagg hasserved on the boards ofthe ANZ Banking Group(New Zealand) and ANZInvestment Services(New Zealand).Peter GalballyQC, BA, LLBBarrister, Victorian BarMr Galbally specialisesin civil, medical andimmigration law. He wasappointed Queen’s Counselin 1989. He is a FoundationTrustee of Law Aid Victoriaand has been Chairmanof the Barristers’ ListCommittee D Victorian Bar.Mr Galbally has exploredAustralia’s park systemextensively and has ownedand operated a number offarming properties insouth-eastern Australia.He is currently aconsultative member of theMurrumbidgee CatchmentArea Review Committee inNew South Wales.12

Jane GilmourPhD, FAICDExecutive Director,Earthwatch InstituteAustraliaDr Gilmour brings to theBoard extensive experienceas Director of EarthwatchAustralia, an organisationthat supports a significantinternational program ofnatural and environmentalfield research. Dr Gilmour isa member of the NationalEnvironmental ConsultativeForum, has served on anumber of boards and wasa member of the Cultureand Heritage ReferenceGroup for the FederalGovernment’s first Stateof the Environment Reportreleased in 1996.Jane TongsB.Bus., MBAChairman, NetwealthInvestments Limited& MHSC LimitedMs Tongs is a past Directorof Heine ManagementLimited and its relatedcompanies, the VictorianWomen’s Trust and is apast member of the AlpineResorts Co-ordinatingCouncil. A former partnerat PriceWaterhouseCoopers,she has had significantexperience with theinsurance, fundsmanagement andsuperannuation sector.A member of the Instituteof Company Directors,the Institute of CharteredAccountants and theInstitute of InternalAuditors, Ms Tongs is alsoan independent directorof the GovernmentSuperannuation Office,Mayne Finance Ltd,Netwealth InvestmentsLimited, Bayside HealthServices and RMITUniversity Limited.Pam RobinsonOAMPam Robinson hasextensive experience infarming, forestry, localgovernment andcommunity development.She is a former memberof the Land ConservationCouncil and the NationalLandcare AdvisoryCommittee and wasChair of the StatePlantations Impact Study.A former shire president,Ms Robinson hasparticipated at all levelsof local, regional, state andnational decision-makingbodies, particularly innatural resourcemanagement. She wasawarded the OAM in1990 for services to localgovernment andconservation. NowMelbourne-based, sheretains agricultural landin Victoria’s north-east.Dr Geoff WescottB.Sc. (Hons),M.Sc. (Melb).M.Sc.Dip Nat Cons (Lond)PhD (Deakin), MIB,FEIA.Associate Head of School,Ecology and Environment &Associate Professor, Facultyof Science and Technology,Deakin UniversityDr Wescott is the formerConvener of the NationalParks Advisory Counciland has a Ph.D. inEnvironmental Policy andManagement, a M.Sc. inNature Conservation, aM.Sc. in Marine Zoologyand is the author ofnumerous park publicationsincluding A Field Guideto Wilsons PromontoryMarine and National Park.Mr Don SaundersB.AgriSc.Mr Saunders was theDirector of National Parksfor 15 years, a formerChairman of the LandConservation Counciland the EnvironmentConservation Council andnow works part time as theconservation co-ordinatorof the Bird Observers Clubof Australia. Among hismany roles, he has beena member of the NationalParks Advisory Council,Reference Area AdvisoryCommittee, Murray DarlingBasin Commission, NationalLandcare AdvisoryCommittee and acommissioner of theAlpine Resorts Commission.He is currently a Trusteeof the Trust for Nature.His many awards for hiscontribution to parksinclude the 1996 PublicService Medal – AustraliaDay Award, the 1998 ParksVictoria Kookaburra Awardand a Churchill Fellowship.13

The ExecutiveLeft to right:Mark Stone, Chief Executive; Kate Brown, Legal Counsel & Board Secretary; Nigel Caswell, Regional Manager City & Bays;Carol Sweatman, Chief Ranger Port Phillip; Neil McCarthy, General Manager Resourcing & Communication;Ken King, Deputy Chief Executive, GM Metro Parks & Bays Policy & Strategy; Jennifer Lilburn, Regional Manager Melbourne Metro;Trevor Miles, Regional Manager Central Region; Geoff Bray, General Manager Corporate Services;Stuart Ord, Regional Manager East Region; David Young, Regional Manager West Region; Sarah Minchinton, Manager ExecutiveServices; Ian Christie, General Manager National Parks Policy & Strategy; Keryn Allan, Executive Assistant.14

Senior Management TeamIan ChristieStuart OrdDavid YoungTrevor MilesGeneral ManagerNational ParksPolicy & StrategyRegional ManagerEast RegionRegional ManagerWest RegionRegional ManagerCentral RegionPaul DartnellMurray RankinMike GoodeJohn McIntyreManagerNational Parks PolicyBusiness ManagerBusiness ManagerBusiness ManagerAnnie VolkeringChris RoseAndrew MarshallPeter LivitsanisManagerNational Parks &Conservation ProgramsChief RangerAlpsChief RangerMalleeChief RangerBasalt PlainsSally TroyGraeme DavisRachael RobertsonNeville ByrneManagerNational Parks &Conservation ResearchChief RangerWest GippslandChief RangerGrampiansChief RangerMurray CentralRussell MasonDennis MatthewsRod NewnhamRocky BarcaManagerNational Parks Tourism& Visitor ProgramsChief RangerEast GippslandChief RangerWest CoastChief RangerCentral HighlandsAndrew GraystoneKate MillarIan WalkerTony LongManagerFire Liason& ComplianceChief RangerEnvironmentProgramsChief RangerEnvironmentProgramsChief RangerEnvironmentProgramsPeter McKayPeter BrayPat FrickerJohn NankervisManagerMarine Parks &Coastal ProgramsChief RangerAsset ProgramsChief RangerAsset ProgramsChief RangerAsset ProgramsMark StoneChief ExecutiveParks VictoriaKate BrownLegal Counsel &Board SecretaryGeoff BrayGeneral ManagerCorporate ServicesSimon MahoneyManagerFinanceNeil HarrisManagerAdministration& RiskPhil LenthallManagerInformationTechnologyNeil McCarthyGeneral ManagerResourcing &CommunicationBrett CheatleyManagerCorporate StrategyNicole BrownManagerHuman Resources &Organisation DevelopmentAlex HoltManagerCommunicationsKen KingDeputy Chief ExecutiveGM Metro Parks &Bays Policy & StrategyRichard O’ByrneManagerMetro Parks &Bays PolicyMal PoulterManagerVisitor & AssetProgramsNick MazzarellaManagerMajor ProjectsSue SilberbergManagerConservation &Heritage ProgramsNigel CaswellRegional ManagerCity & BaysGeoff OvensBusiness ManagerPaul SandellsDirectorWerribee ParkHamish MacLennanChief RangerCity & WaterwaysCarole SweatmanChief RangerPort PhillipBob BrinkmanChief RangerMornington &WesternportWayne HillChief RangerEnvironmentProgramsMimmo BollaChief RangerAsset ProgramsJennifer LilburnRegional ManagerMelbourne MetroTim JohnsonBusiness ManagerDennis DuckettManagerCommercial ServicesDavid NugentChief RangerYarraChris HardmanChief RangerDandenongsLisa CourtChief RangerEast MetroTony VarcoeChief RangerEnvironmentProgramsAndrew PaxtonChief RangerAsset Programs15

2 Protecting and Conserving Our HeritageNatural HeritageThe year in review was marked by many significantachievements including the completion of more than 800projects across the State. Driving these accomplishments wasour new three-year environmental management planningcycle, which allows us to better balance long-term demandsand challenges with those issues that need to be dealt withmore immediately.Consequently, Parks Victoria can ensure that adequateresources are directed at high-priority environmental projectsacross the almost four million hectares we manage. Over thenext three years we will focus on threatened species andcommunities, native animal management and controlledburning, which will minimise the risk of future fires andensure the regeneration of fire-dependent ecosystems.We will also continue to tackle the perennial problem ofcontrolling pest plants and animals. This year’s projectsaddressed these issues as well as our other key environmentalpriorities, namely, catchment and marine protection andgrazing management.This year’s highlights included:The State of the Parks 2000 ReportThe information and analysis contained in the State of theParks 2000 Report has reinforced our capabilities in managingthe parks system. An Australian first, this landmark reportoutlines the current health of Victoria’s parks and the majorfactors affecting their long-term viability. It describes thenatural values distributed across the park system and how theparks contribute to biodiversity conservation statewide.Covering more than 100 important parks and 200 reserves,the report will serve as a useful benchmark in the future.Left to right: Twelve critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeaters werereintroduced into Bunyip State Park; The spring wildflower displays, such as theLeopard Orchid above are a reminder of the rich diversity of flora protected inparks and reserves; The koala management program included the relocation ofkoalas from French Island and Mount Eccles National Park.Threatened Species ManagementParks Victoria launched several initiatives to protectthreatened species, such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot,Hooded Plover, Spotted Tree Frog, Striped Legless Lizard andHelmeted Honeyeater.•We began a radio tracking program of the Eastern BarredBandicoot at Woodlands Historic Park. Partly funded by theNatural Heritage Trust, the program will monitor the releaseand survival of captive-bred bandicoots. The animals, whichwere bred at the Melbourne Zoo, have been implantedwith radio transmitters and will be tracked over the next12 to 18 months.• Fox and sea spurge control were the key elements of aprogram to protect Hooded Plover along the MorningtonPeninsula coastline. Friends Group volunteers and parksstaff regularly monitored the population of these sea birdsalong 30 kilometres of coast and found fledgling and adultnumbers had increased.•To help protect the Spotted Tree Frog, we built a fishbarrier on White’s Creek at the Lake Eildon National Parkto stop trout moving upstream. This major project involvedconsiderable liaison with a range of stakeholder groups andwill focus on removing trout upstream of the barrier byelectro-fishing during the 2001-2002 summer.• Parks Victoria released 50 endangered Striped LeglessLizards at Organ Pipes National Park and Laverton NorthGrassland in March 2001 (with funding assistance fromthe Urban Land Corporation) after rescuing them fromthe Cairnlea Estate the previous Spring and Summer.Melbourne Zoo cared for the animals before their release.• The Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Team reintroduced thiscritically endangered bird to Bunyip State Park. In 1999,five aviaries were built at the release site and the captivebredbirds introduced into them. In a major milestone forthe program, 12 Helmeted Honeyeaters were released fromthe aviaries into the park.16

Native Animal ManagementParks Victoria continued its kangaroo and koala populationcontrol programs in parks where over-population will have adetrimental long-term impact on park values. The programswere conducted in accordance with established ecologicalrationale and with the support of key stakeholders includingthe Kangaroo Technical Advisory Committee.Projects undertaken during the year included the humaneand successful delivery of ongoing kangaroo managementprograms at Hattah-Kulkyne and Wyperfeld National Parks.An assessment of vegetation condition in the Murray-SunsetNational Park has underpinned a kangaroo managementprogram planned for the park. This was done by facilitatingthe development of short- and long-term targets forvegetation recovery and providing baseline data againstwhich management actions can be assessed.The koala management program included the successfulrelocation of 172 adults and 55 sterilised females from FrenchIsland and 1300 koalas from Mount Eccles National Park tosites across Western Victoria.Wilsons Promontory National ParkThe Minister released a draft plan for the integratedmanagement of Wilsons Promontory National Park and TidalRiver. The plan’s cohesive direction focuses on environmentaland nature conservation projects.Other Programs• Caledonia Cattle Grazing – Cattle grazing was excludedfrom the area burnt by the 1998 Caledonia wildfire forthe 2000-2001 grazing season. An assistance package wasmade available to those licence holders who were excludedfrom grazing cattle to cover the remainder of the currentlicence period. Four of the seven affected licensees tookup the offer.• Catchment and Marine Protection – We closed andrehabilitated approximately 25 kilometres of vehicle tracksin the Windy Point and Black Snake Range areas of BunyipState Park (including 3 kilometres in the Diamond CreekReference Area) to significantly reduce the park’s highlyfragmented nature and improve its natural condition.• Pest Plant Management – We significantly reduced largeinfestations of Karamu over 70 hectares of the DandenongRanges National Park, and our goal to eradicate the plantis within reach after further works in 2001-2002. We alsocontrolled Cestrum and Tradescantia in the park, includingthe latter’s complete removal from an area near theThousand Steps at Ferntree Gully.• Ecological (Controlled) Burning – Programs undertakenduring the year included three burns in CroajingolongNational Park to regenerate heathlands and enhancethe habitat of the endangered Ground Parrot; burningof heathland in Grampians National Park to improvethe habitat of the threatened Heath Mouse and a burnat Mount Lofty in Warrandyte State Park to regeneratenative grasslands.• Pest Animal Management – Some notable achievementsincluded two large programs targeting wild dogs andfoxes in the Alpine and Snowy River National Parks;our continued cooperative fox control program inDandenong Ranges National Park to protect Lyrebirds andother native fauna; and continued rabbit control activitiesin the Mallee parks to reduce grazing pressure.• Urban Biolinks – As part of the Port Phillip NativeVegetation Plan, we carried out large-scale revegetationworks along the Middle Yarra, Dandenong Valley andPlenty Gorge corridors.• Ramsar Wetland Restoration – Adjoining landholders,communities and catchment management authoritiesworked with Parks Victoria to fence, revegetate andrehabilitate Ramsar wetlands in the Western District andGippsland Lakes.Environmental Information SystemParks Victoria’s Environmental Information System (EIS)records and reports the organisation’s environmental activities.It provides information to field staff on the natural valuesof parks and reserves and helps improve the efficiency andeffectiveness of our environmental programs. During theyear we upgraded the EIS to improve information flow onthreatened species, pest animals, pest plants and ecologicalburns. The stored information in the EIS will help measureour efficiency in the future.Table 1 – Summary of Environmental Program AreasProgram Area No. of No. of ParksProjects and ReservesCatchment and Marine Protection 144 81Ecological Management of Fire 44 35Grazing Management 16 12Native Animal Management 17 11Pest Animal Management 239 122Pest Plant Management 402 157Threatened Species Management 54 3317

Left: Elders from Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Limited and Parks Victoria staff at cross-cultural training in Mooroopna near Shepparton.Right: Minister Garbutt at a launch at South Channel Fort with Parks Victoria staff.Cultural HeritageStrengthening our relationships by working cooperatively withindigenous communities across the State has been one of themajor planks in our three-year plan for managing culturalvalues. During the year we held cultural awareness trainingprograms for our staff and consulted with indigenouscommunities about proposed projects, planning activities anddraft guidelines on working with Aboriginal communities.The training program, which will help staff build closeworking relationships with Aboriginal communities andorganisations, examined issues such as appropriateconsultation, relevant legislation and protectingimportant sites.This year’s highlights included:Indigenous PartnershipsThe indigenous community has a much stronger role indetermining Aboriginal cultural messages to visitors toBarmah State Park following an agreement with the YortaYorta Nation to deliver interpretive services at the DharnyaCentre. This agreement includes the secondment of two ParksVictoria cultural officers to the Yorta Yorta Nation. We alsomade significant progress in planning a partnership betweenthe Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Parks Victoria’sHalls Gap Visitor Centre.Indigenous Cultural Awareness TrainingProminent Aboriginal elders and community members metwith 150 staff as part of a much-lauded and ground-breakingcross-cultural training program. Staff gained a clearerunderstanding and knowledge of indigenous culture andmore effective skills for interacting with Aboriginalcommunities.Indigenous Management GuidelinesThe completion of the draft Guidelines for Working withAboriginal Communities and Protection of Cultural Sitesmarked a major milestone in the development of ParksVictoria’s Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management Program.Other Programs• Indigenous Cultural Heritage Surveys – Increased staffawareness and survey work with Aboriginal Affairs Victoriahelped identify new sites of Aboriginal occupation at theEureka Mining Site, Leaghur State Park, Lake Boort WildlifeReserve, Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Wilsons PromontoryNational Park, Lysterfield Lake Park and ChurchillNational Park.• Indigenous Site Protection – With cooperation from localAboriginal communities, we protected many indigenoussites at Bunyip State Park, Plenty Gorge Parklands, CoronetBay, Sorrento Ocean Beach, Rosebud Foreshore, CaptainsCreek in Croajingolong National Park, Royals Creek and NewGuinea 2 Caves in Snowy River National Park, Point Hicksand the Koetong Rock Art site at Mt Lawson State Park.• Wimmera Native Title Integration Group – Parks Victoriaworked closely with the Wotjobaluk Traditional LandCouncil in establishing and facilitating the Wimmera NativeTitle Integration Group. Parks Victoria will consult with thisbody in managing Little Desert National Park and otherregional State and National parks.18

Heritage ProgramsParks Victoria has taken a more strategic and systematicapproach to managing the non-indigenous heritage assets inits care, with strong support from Heritage Victoria. To ensurethe long-term care of these cultural treasures, Parks Victoriahas refined its management program and planning processes,developed a heritage strategy and worked to maintain anddevelop business partnerships. Protecting and presenting theState’s mining heritage sites has been a major focus of ourwork this year, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of golddiscovery in Victoria. Local communities have been heavilyinvolved in developing many of these projects.This year’s highlights included:Directions in Historic Places ManagementWe have developed a draft heritage strategy that takes ahistorical thematic approach to managing more than 2500historic places.Mount Alexander DiggingsWe received the 2000 Innovation and Best Practice(Corporate) Award from Parks and Leisure Australia forour work with Mt Alexander Shire, NRE and Heritage Victoriain developing this historic tourism site.Heritage Action StatementsParks Victoria completed eight Heritage Action Statementsfor conservation works at Pontville Homestead, ViewbankHomestead Foundations, Point Cook Homestead, PovertyPoint Bridge, Wilsons Promontory Light Station, Point HicksLight Station, Heathcote Powder Magazine and SouthernGoldfields Historic Reserves.Other Programs• European Heritage Identification – Survey work atCastlemaine-Chewton Historic Reserve identified 300previously unknown sites of gold-era habitation. ParksVictoria is assisting Heritage Victoria in investigating aWorld Heritage site nomination based on Europeancultural themes for this area.• Restoration Projects – Our restoration program includedworks at Wilsons Promontory Light Station, EldoradoDredge, Drysdale Free Library, Mount Buffalo HistoricShelters, Wonthaggi State Coal Mine Rescue Station,Queenscliff Lifeboat Shed and the South Channel Fort.• Public Heritage Program – We received grants of $425,525for ten major conservation projects including Mount BuffaloHistoric Shelters, Wilsons Promontory Light Station, PovertyPoint Bridge in Mount Baw Baw National Park, QueenscliffPier Lifeboat Shed, Skipton Courthouse and Police Stables,Lal Lal Blast furnace, Grand Duke Mine at Timor, PointCook Homestead and Heatherlie Quarry in the Grampians.Wilsons Promontory Light Station.• 150th Anniversary of Gold – Parks Victoria played a key rolewith Manningham City Council and community groups tocelebrate the first registered Victorian gold discovery witha re-enactment at Warrandyte State Park.• Buchan Caves Grant – A $605,000 Regional InfrastructureDevelopment Fund grant allowed the upgrading of visitorfacilities and cave safety at Buchan Caves.• Collins Settlement – We began work on a FutureDirections Plan for the original 1803 Collins SettlementSite at Sorrento.19

3 Working with the Community and Our PartnersIn this the International Year of Volunteers, Parks Victoriacommends the help and dedication of the many passionatevolunteers who offer thousands of days of labour to helppreserve and enhance our precious parklands. The assistance,dedication and expertise of the individuals and more than700 groups who contributed to the broad range of projectscarried out in parks has been integral to our success.Friends GroupsParks Victoria greatly values and appreciates the contributionsmade by the many Friends and community groups that workwith us. Although there are more than 700 groups who assistin conservation works across the State, approximately 380have a direct relationship with parks and reserves managedby Parks Victoria. Some of the year’s highlights were:• Friends of Wyperfeld published a book, titled Wyperfeld –Australia’s First Mallee National Park.• Friends of Cathedral Range State Park played an integralrole in completing a nature trail near Cooks Mill in theCathedral Range State Park. The trail features informationpanels about the Manna Gum forest found in the area.•Friends of Lerderderg State Park used a Centenary ofFederation Community Grant to build three informationshelters in the park.• The Friends of Herring Island obtained a grant from ParksVictoria to fund a sculpture by John Gollings called FallingFence. The project included a small access trail to thelanding at the north end of the island.• New Friends group was formed at Kooyoora State Park.A full list of volunteer groups is available on the Parks Victoriawebsite at www.parkweb.vic.gov.auOther Volunteer ProgramsParks Victoria continues to develop varied and targetedprograms that are compatible with the skills and abilitiesof volunteers across a range of ages, socio-economicbackgrounds and ethnic groups. Volunteers contributed morethan 17,500 days of assistance in a diverse range of projectsacross the State. They included the following:•A near record number of volunteers participated in CleanUp Australia Day activities in parks across the State in 2001.•A record crowd of more than 10,000 people acrossMelbourne took part in Greening Australia’s Spring PlantingFestival. More than 230,000 indigenous plants wereplanted at 23 sites.• The marvellous work of Friends groups, students and othervolunteers has resulted in great improvements at HerringIsland, Westgate Park and Pipemakers Park. Albert Park’sCorroboree Tree Project has also received enthusiasticvolunteer backing.•Volunteers contributed more than 750 hours to a successfulwillow control program in Baw Baw National Park. Otheragencies including NRE and Baw Baw Alpine Resorts arenow also supporting the ongoing project.• Seawinds Nursery volunteers propagated more than 22,000indigenous plants for revegetation projects within theMornington Westernport District parks.Camp HostThe Camp Host Program, launched in 2000-2001, operatedsuccessfully at 19 sites statewide and involved more than 50volunteers. Camp Hosts play a valuable role in providingvisitor orientation and park information at campgrounds andacting as contact points for visitors and rangers. In turn,Camp Hosts have the opportunity to gain practical experiencein park and visitor management.Parks involved in the program include Hattah-KulkyneNational Park, Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, Buchan CavesReserve, The Lakes National Park, Gippsland Lakes CoastalPark, Vaughan Springs Reserve and Grampians National Park.Left to right: The Camp Host Program at Lake Mournpall, Hattah-KulkyneNational Park; Friends of Mitta Mitta; Volunteers and community groups enjoyplanting trees in many parks across Victoria.20

Work Experience VolunteersThe Green Corps program continued to make significantcontributions to parks and reserves across the State.Green Corps participants undergo a structured six-monthtraining program and on-the-job experience in parkmanagement projects.Altogether more than 70 trainees participated in theHelmeted Honeyeater habitat rehabilitation at Yellingbo, theMount Eccles Koala relocation program, Ramsar Wetlandsrestoration works, the Yarra District and Dandenong ValleyBiolinks project and works in the Wimmera Reserves.Parks Victoria Grants Program 2000-2001During the year, Parks Victoria’s Grants Program awardedover $4.2 million in grants to a variety of projects thatreached new levels of excellence and innovation. We haveestablished firm partnerships with many grant recipients,whose hard work and enthusiasm have produced someoutstanding projects.Parks Victoria awards Agency Grants to local governmentsand public land managers in Metropolitan Melbourne, whileCommunity Grants are awarded to community groups acrossVictoria. We also awarded $6,500 in Start-Up Grants to13 new groups to encourage them to look after parksand open spaces.Staff members from across Parks Victoria are trained to assessgrant applications and projects. The Grants Advisory Council,with help from the grants team, prioritises the applicationsand makes recommendations to the Minister.The Parks Victoria Grants Program is an ISO 9002 QualityAssurance Certified Program. Following a comprehensiveexternal audit in November 1999, the program receivedcertification for a further three years.This year’s highlights included:• Extension of Melbourne’s trail network, including significantadditions to the Bay Trail at Frankston, Mornington,Hobsons Bay and within the city of Bayside. Further traillinks were also established at Melton and Maribyrnong.• Five multicultural agency grants were awarded for the firsttime to a number of migrant resource centres and theCambodian Association of Victoria. The grants will be usedfor programs to introduce migrant groups to the diversityof recreational opportunities available in open spaces.•Grants funded the restoration of indigenous vegetation onLong Islands at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne,at Albion grasslands on the St Albans campus of VictoriaUniversity, on the Merri Creek escarpments and at manyother sites across the State.• Numerous community groups received grants for heritageworks on schools, gardens, halls, cemeteries and housingsettlements.Number of ProjectsTotal fundingStart-up Grants 13 6,500.00Volunteer Group Grants 143 736,570.00Community GrantsEnvironment 40 150,731.00Heritage 11 28,164.00Recreation 28 139,623.00Community Awareness 21 176,176.00Increasing Multicultural Diversity 4 13,808.00104 508,502.00Agency GrantsEnvironment and Heritage 19 1,002,960.50Multicultural 5 193,156.00Recreation 11 807,695.00Trails 10 983,550.0045 2,987,361.50TOTAL 305 4,238,933.5021

Partnerships at WorkParks Victoria continues to develop, maintain and strengthenpartnership links with a variety of private and publicorganisations. Some of the activities involving these importantpartnerships included:Healthy Parks Healthy PeopleParks Victoria and its medical industry partners continued thesuccessful Healthy Parks Healthy People campaign to promotethe beneficial effects of healthy parks on physical and mentalhealth. Our partners included the Heart Foundation, AsthmaVictoria and Arthritis Victoria, with endorsement from theRoyal Australian College of General Practitioners.The Australian Alps Liaison CommitteeAlthough the Commonwealth Government withdrew directfinancial support for the Australian Alps Liaison Committeebeyond the 2000-2001 financial year, the program stillproduced some highlights during the year.The program included the Best Practice Walking TrackWorkshop held at Dinner Plain and Mount Buffalo.Participants from all over Australia, as well as guests fromScotland, New Zealand and Nepal shared their best practicesfor planning and managing mountain trails. Another traininghighlight was the successful Communicating Across Culturesworkshop held in 2000.Work continues on the management and control of EnglishBroom, and program members are also preparing for the Yearof Mountains in 2002.Research Partners ProgramThe Research Partners Program, which attracts funding of$1 million over three years, reflects Parks Victoria’s goalto integrate high-quality research into environmentalmanagement. Partnerships are formed with researchinstitutions who undertake targeted projects that involvescientists as well as undergraduate and post-graduatestudents, community groups, consultants and otherresearchers.Research highlights included:Cheetham Wetlands – The health of Cheetham Wetlandsdepends on regular flows of water. This research project triedto find cheaper alternatives to the current pumping systemthat costs $8000 a year to operate. Three pumping systemswere found to reduce electricity costs short term, but werefound to be more costly in the long term. The project foundthat the existing system operated under a different pumpingschedule was the best alternative.Terrick Terrick National Park – This project investigated thehabitat requirements of threatened reptiles in grasslands atTerrick Terrick National Park. Artificial log refuges were usedto observe threatened reptiles such as the Curl Snake,Tessellated Gecko and Striped Legless Lizard, and other faunain the park’s newly acquired grasslands.Mount Eccles National Park – In studying the impact of Koalason Manna Gums at Mount Eccles National Park, researchersmapped the distribution of defoliated trees and establishedmonitoring plots to assess the damage Koalas caused.Werribee Precinct Region of Excellence ProjectParks Victoria has launched a plan to maximise the potentialof the Werribee region by creating an integrated recreationand tourism precinct of national and internationalsignificance. Involving State and local Government, theprivate sector and community groups, the vision includes:•creating eco-tourism opportunities around the area’snatural attractions;• expanding recreational opportunities around the bay andWerribee River;• developing a residential, educational and research precinctbased on the area’s diverse cultural, historical,environmental, tourism and agricultural characteristics;• further developing the range of established and nationallyrenowned art and cultural events.Mornington Westernport Biosphere ReserveParks Victoria strengthened its strategic partnerships byworking on a project to have the Mornington Westernportregion declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Parks Victoriaproduced a brochure for the project and had considerableinput into the ad hoc committee meetings. Our work on theBiosphere Reserve continues.Educating our Park ManagersParks Victoria continues to build links with tertiary providersof park management education. Deakin University has agreedto augment its Bachelor of Park Management course withan associated postgraduate program and off-campus studyfrom 2003.Five more staff members received internal scholarship supportto do the course, bringing to 17 the total number of staffdoing the degree. One place was offered as part of theNational Indigenous Cadetship Program (NICP). The successfulcandidate is progressing through the Deakin ParkManagement degree program.Parks Victoria also collaborated with the University ofMelbourne to organise a one-week residential National Schoolin Park Management. This, the fourth year of the School,attracted 22 middle managers from across Australasia. Fivesenior Parks Victoria Managers gave presentations as part ofthe program.22

Clockwise from left: The Healthy Parks Healthy People partnership brochure was distributed to General Practitioners;One of our key media partners, FOXFM, at the Parks Festival; Mapping is a key activity in the Research Partners Program.Partnerships with Park AgenciesThe close relationship we maintain with other park agencies,nationally and internationally, allows us to conductperformance benchmarking and provides staff withprofessional development opportunities.We embarked on a staff secondment program withEnvironment Australia, for example, that saw a staff memberfrom Kakadu National Park working in Victoria and a ParksVictoria Ranger-in-Charge spending 12 months at Kakadu togain a better understanding of co-management.Parks Victoria staff supported the Olympic Torch Relay atUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, while another three fieldstaff assisted the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service inmanaging the Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay NationalParks during the Olympic Games.Several government delegations from Japan, Taiwan andChina also visited Parks Victoria during the year, as did sixleading representatives from park organisations in Canada,the United States, South Africa and New Zealand. Theseincluded Parks Canada’s science advisor and the Directorof San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area.Providing for a Multicultural SocietyThe Healthy Parks Healthy People campaign was designedto inspire affection and support for the Victorian parks andwaterways system by linking the benefits of a healthy parksystem with a healthy community.To promote the message to the non-English speaking groupsin our community – who are generally under-representedamong the visitors we receive – Parks Victoria targeted theethnic print media to help us communicate the Healthy ParksHealthy People message.The Romanian community took the initiative in promotingVictoria’s parks by producing a colourful booklet in Romanian.Funded by a Parks Victoria Community Grant, the publicationwas greeted with much interest by other migrantcommunities, who we hope will consider similar projects.Media PartnershipsParks Victoria maintains strong media partnerships to helpcommunicate the custodial role we play in managing andprotecting our parklands while providing recreationalopportunities.One example is Parks Victoria’s partnership with the Herald Sun,which has been crucial to the success of Victoria’s Parks Festival.Another is Channel 9’s Postcards program, which allows us toreach a mass audience with important conservation stories suchas the Koala relocation program and features on parks such asGrampians and Little Desert National Parks.During the Parks Festival we were able to take our messageto a younger audience through our radio partnership withFOX-FM, while at the other end of the spectrum, regularweekly park updates on 3AK also ensured consistent exposureamong mature listeners.23

4 Enhancing the Visitor ExperienceParks Victoria strives to make each visitor’s experienceenjoyable, safe, informative, uplifting and restorative. Thisgoal underlies much of the work we do. One of the mostimportant tasks we completed during the year was the firstcomprehensive assessment of the level of service we provide.This study examined the adequacy of facilities and services at1500 visitor sites, which will enable us to set priorities andidentify where improvements need to be made. We alsoemployed 48 seasonal rangers, mainly in regional areas, toensure we provide quality service to visitors during ourbusiest times.Information, Interpretation and EducationParks Victoria’s Information, Interpretation and Education(II&E) policy is designed to help manage visitor behaviour andpublic safety, conserve and protect park values and promoteunderstanding and support for park management policiesand practices.An integrated II&E training program was developed to ensureParks Victoria staff have excellent skills in planning anddelivering these integrated II&E programs. Staff will begintraining in 2001-2002.InformationThe Information Centre 13 1963Public awareness of Parks Victoria’s 24-hours-a-day, sevendays-a-weekinformation line has continued to grow eachyear, with 140,603 calls received, an increase of 6.3 percent.Our experienced operators answer a wide range of enquiriesabout parks, camping, events and the organisation.The Website www.parkweb.vic.gov.auParks Victoria’s various websites received almost 12 millionhits, a substantial increase of almost four million hits over theprevious year. This growth can be partly attributed to amarketing campaign targeting youth hostels, Internet cafes,Tourism Victoria’s overseas offices and Tourist InformationCentres. Visitors to the website are able to downloaddocuments such as the annual report, parknotes, brochures,approved management plans, discussion papers andother reports.The website will play an increasingly importantcommunication role as Internet usage increases, allowing usto reduce the numbers and volume of brochures produced inprint form, in line with our commitment to environmentalsustainability and best practice.InterpretationOne of Parks Victoria’s most important roles is to educatevisitors – in relevant and entertaining ways – about thenatural and cultural wonders that abound in Victoria’s parksand heritage sites. This interpretation process can take theform of ranger-led activities, guided walks, campfire nights,slide shows, information signs, publications and other media.More than 12,000 visitors participated in a wide range offace-to-face interpretation programs led by rangers, CampHosts and volunteers. The following table overleaf providesdetails of some of these programs. It does not includeparticipation in tours that represent a major component ofa park visit, such as tours at The Mansion at Werribee Park.Left to right: A new walkway for visitors at Wilsons Promontory National Park;Primary School Children learning more about the exciting aspects of theenvironment with a Parks Victoria Ranger; Parks Victoria Ranger enhancingthe visitor experience at Crystal Brook Falls, Mount Buffalo National Park.24

Park Examples of activities No. of participantsWilsons Promontory NP Junior Rangers, Rockpool Rambles, spotlight walks, etc. 4860 (summer)800 (autumn/Easter)Mt Buffalo and Alpine NPs Guided walks, slide shows, spotlight walks 1286 (summer)Buchan Caves Reserve Special cave tours, children’s activities 335 (summer)[54,221 people went onstandard guided cave toursover the year]Dandenong Ranges NP Children’s activities 300 (spring/summer)Cape Conran CP Rockpool Rambles, geology walk, Breakfast with the Birds 584 (summer)Croajingolong NP Spotlight walks, slide talks 400 (summer)Grampians NP Campfire nights, rock art tours 361 (Easter)The Mansion at Werribee Park Billy tea and damper, craft activities 2680As well as these face-to-face programs, visitors benefitedfrom new interpretive displays and signs at numerous sitesacross the State. Some of the key messages contained inthe State of the Parks 2000 Report were also incorporatedinto displays.EducationEducation websiteParks Victoria’s education website is continuously beingimproved with the addition of new features. Teachers canmake bookings for staff-led activities on-line and student andteacher enquiries can also be addressed on-line. An on-lineenvironmental quiz has been added to the features andschools are now able to post their stories directly onto thesite. The site exceeded expectations with approximately270,000 hits during the year.Education CentresParks Victoria operates four Education Centres that provideexcellent service to schools across the State. These centresare located at Wilsons Promontory, Grampians andDandenong Ranges National Parks and at the Mansion atWerribee Park. As well as a diverse range of qualityinterpretive activity programs provided by our educationstaff, the year’s highlights also included the fourth annualresidential development program for teachers at WilsonsPromontory; a Careers Information Day at GrampiansNational Park in which students learned about being parkrangers; successful Teacher Open Days at the Mansion atWerribee Park; and the extremely popular Careers DiscoveryDay and school holiday programs at Dandenong RangesNational Park.The numbers of students involved in activities at the ParksVictoria’s Education Centres are shown below:Student Category Dandenong Grampians NP Wilsons The Mansion atRanges NP Promontory NP Werribee ParkPrimary 1579 2706 3632 6659Secondary 1938 2424 3410 283Tertiary/Other 72 507 370 142Total 3589 5637 7412 708425

School PartnershipsThe Victorian Youth Development Program focuses on environmental awareness and research, revegetation, tree planting, weedcontrol, park/reserve management and fauna protection. Seventeen schools are involved in the program and during 2000-2001six schools joined the ever-increasing list of school partners. Participating schools are listed below:School Location Year joinedCasterton Secondary College Casterton 2001Castlemaine Secondary College Castlemaine 1999Chaffey Secondary College Mildura 1999Eumemmering Secondary College, Gleneagles Campus Hallam 1997Footscray Secondary College Footscray 1999Gilmore College for Girls Footscray 1999Kooweerup Secondary College Kooweerup 1999Lyndhurst Secondary College Cranbourne 1999Mirboo North Secondary College Mirboo North 2001Mortlake College Mortlake 1999Mount Clear Secondary College Mount Clear 1999Nhill Secondary College Nhill 1998Patterson River Secondary College Carrum 2001South Gippsland Secondary College Foster 2001Traralgon Secondary College, West Campus Traralgon 2000Wantirna College Wantirna 2001Yarrawonga Secondary College Yarrawonga 2001Major Events and ExhibitionsBy participating in events ranging from large public showsand exhibitions to small regional festivals across the State,Parks Victoria can communicate its important messages toa wide audience. Through this involvement, we hope to raiseawareness of the variety and diversity of this State’s parks,the recreational opportunities they offer and their role inpromoting both a healthy society and healthy individuals.These events are also useful to strengthen links with ourmany stakeholders and to encourage more people to getout and discover Victoria’s great outdoors.Victoria’s Parks Festival at Albert ParkVictoria’s Parks Festival, held in May 2001, is Parks Victoria’smost significant event. This festival at Albert Park showcasedthe State’s parks and their important role in conserving thenatural environment and promoting the wellbeing of thecommunity. More than 70 tour operators, community groupsand associations, as well as Friends groups and park rangers,provided information and demonstrations to an estimated20,000 visitors.The 2000 Royal Melbourne ShowParks Victoria made its debut at the 2000 Royal MelbourneShow as part of the Victorian State Government Expo Centre.With approximately 300,000 visitors attending the ExpoCentre, the Parks Victoria brand and the Healthy ParksHealthy People message received excellent exposure.26

Clockwise from left: Passing on park values to the next generation; Visitors explore the Parks Victoria display at the Royal Melbourne Show;Parks Victoria at one of the largest recreational and tourism exhibitions, the Caravan Camping 4WD and Destination Show.Caravan Camping 4WD and Destination ShowHeld in April 2001, this show has become one of Australia’slargest recreational and tourism exhibitions, attracting crowdsof more than 60,000. Parks Victoria rangers engaged visitorswith their expert knowledge, dispensing information aboutcamping and four-wheel drive touring in parks and about ourenvironmental management programs.Other Events and ExhibitionsMetropolitan parks and other Parks Victoria venues proved tobe perfect locations for a rich and colourful range of eventsand festivals. Albert Park boasted a full calendar of funactivities, including Carols by the Lake, the RSPCA’s MillionPaws Walk, Kids Come ‘n’ Try Fishing and the GreatMelbourne Bike Ride.The Yarra River reverberated to the colour of the MoombaFireworks display, the Melbourne Masters Waterskiing, theInternational Dragon Boat festival and New Year’s Evecelebrations, while the banks of the Maribyrnong saw theSpring Racing Carnival and Moonee Valley Festival.Herring Island provided a perfect setting for The Age SummerArts Program from October 2000 to March 2001; jazz fansenjoyed two days of music, food and wine at the Coolart JazzFestival; while picturesque Seawinds showcased the works ofsome of the country’s leading sculptors.27

Clockwise from left: Tour operator with canoeists on the Murray River near Barmah State Park;Visitors exploring static interpretation in the Mallee parklands; An afternoon stroll through therolling hills in the Alpine National Park.Tour OperatorsTour operators play an important role in promoting theenvironmental and social values of our parks and reservesand facilitating recreation and tourism in these areas.Parks Victoria manages the licensing of tour operatorswho operate in parks and reserves and also licenses thoseoperating on other public land, such as State forest, on behalfof NRE. At 30 June 2001 there were 292 tour operatorslicensed to operate on public land, the majority of whichoperate in areas managed under the National Parks Act.During the year we implemented the Tour OperatorManagement System (TOMS), which enables us to moreefficiently process permits and conduct subsequent licencechecks. We also continued our regular program ofinformation and training workshops for both staff and touroperators. These gatherings provide tour operators with theopportunity to raise important issues and to share informationwith Parks Victoria and NRE.Visitor FacilitiesOur commitment to the ongoing improvement of facilities,access and visitor safety was highlighted by our major worksand risk management programs. Parks Victoria’s StrategicAsset Management Report will help us achieve our goal ofproviding visitors with the best facilities possible. The reportdetails the current condition of our visitor assets and forecaststheir maintenance requirements.Major WorksParks Victoria completed 122 projects in the 2000-2001Major Works Program, spending $13.8 million.The Major Works Program is financed by both internaland external funding sources including funding from theEconomic Review Committee (ERC), the Central CoastalBoard, VicRoads, the Public Heritage Program and the StateBoating Council. It comprises asset creation, major assetrenewal and refurbishment, risk mitigation and heritagerestoration works.28

Left: A spectacular view of the Twelve Apostles and the new visitor facility.Right: A popular landmark – Mackenzie Falls in Grampians National Park.Among the projects completed:• The new $5.5 million Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility wasofficially opened in April 2001. Embracing sustainabledesign principles, the new visitor facilities are world-class,providing toilets, parking, pedestrian underpass,information and interpretation services.• Reconstruction of the South Channel Fort Jetty, providingvisitors with access to the significant heritage andenvironmental site in Port Phillip Bay for the first timesince the unsafe old jetty was closed in 1997.• The upgrade of visitor and camper facilities at RosebudForeshore, including new toilets and walkways,revegetation works and the launch of the RosebudLandscape Master Plan.• The refurbishment of the Point Nepean Visitor Centre withdesign, production and installation of artwork, interpretivedisplays and a new audiovisual presentation.• The construction of new lookouts at Mackenzie Falls andthe Pinnacles in Grampians National Park.• Major improvements were made to the Harbison PicnicArea at Mount Macedon, including a new toilet picnictables, barbecues and paths.• Reconstruction of the San Remo Jetty and Pelican Walk,greatly improving foreshore and harbour facilities andincreasing opportunities for the fishing, boating andtourism industries.• Major restoration works of the heritage-listed WilsonsPromontory Lighthouse to improve walker accommodation.We also completed a new ranger station and interpretivedisplays at Tidal River and upgraded the Sealers Cove Track.• The installation of a major composting toilet system inThe Lakes National Park in conjunction with the GippslandCoastal Board.• The completion and opening of the Taylors Crossingsuspension bridge on the Alpine Walking Track in theAlpine National Park.• The construction of a new toilet at Venus Bay inCape Liptrap Coastal Park.• The completion of works on dams at Lake Catani andThe Reservoir (Mount Buffalo National Park). Since 1997,ongoing works totalling more than half a million dollarshave been carried out to ensure the complete safety ofLysterfield Lake Dam in Lysterfield Lake Park.29

Nature enthusiasts can explore plenty of natural places by mountain bike, on horseback or four-wheel-drive.Tracks and TrailsParks Victoria is represented on the Victorian TrailsCoordinating Committee (VTCC) alongside representativesfrom NRE, Tourism Victoria, Sport and Recreation Victoria,VicRoads and the cycling, walking and horse ridingcommunities. Previously managed by Tourism Victoria, thiscommittee is now under Parks Victoria’s administration.During the year, the committee released the Draft VictorianTrails Strategy for public comment.Four-Wheel-Drive ProgramEach year, funds are allocated to the Four-Wheel-DriveProgram to enable 4WD tracks in parks to be maintained andimproved. This year, 46 projects in 20 parks received funding,including key access routes in Alpine, Errinundra, Grampians,Hattah-Kulkyne, Little Desert, Wyperfeld, Murray-Sunset andSnowy River National Parks, in Angahook-Lorne, Bunyip,Barmah, Carlisle and Lerderderg State Parks and at CapeConran Coastal Park.Maps showing seasonal tracks closures in parks and forestsacross the State were produced and distributed at informationcentres, work centres and via 4WD groups and Parkweb.Access to Parks ProgramThe ongoing task of improving access roads leading to theState’s parks continued during the year. These significant roadprojects included those in Alpine, Grampians, Kinglake, LowerGlenelg and Mornington Peninsula National Parks and in KaraKara, Cathedral Range, Lerderderg and Kooyoora State Parks.30

Parks Victoria staff strive to make each visitor’s experience enjoyable, safe, informative, uplifting and restorative through interpretation activities.Improving Visitor SafetyThe safety of park visitors continues to be a paramountobjective. With a diverse range of park settings andrecreational activities to manage and an ageing suite of parkfacilities and infrastructure to maintain, we have planned abroad-ranging and systematic approach to visitor safety.To ensure visitor safety, we completed the following riskmanagement works:• Risk management works were completed across the State,including the upgrading of structures at Cape SchanckLight Station, O’Shannassy Bridge in Yarra Ranges NationalPark and Mt Warby lookout tower in Warby Range StatePark. We also completed works on a viewing platform andaccess tracks at Cape Liptrap Coastal Park.• Repairs were made to flood-damaged facilities at VaughanSprings Reserve, Lerderderg State Park and Brisbane RangesNational Park.• The Phantom Falls Footbridge in Angahook-Lorne StatePark was replaced, as were the Madsens Track footbridgesin Melba Gully State Park.• The replacement of several bridges in the West Kiewavalley in the Alpine National Park as part of upgradingthe Mount Hotham power supply, partly funded by TXUElectricity Limited.•Trails and facilities at key sites along the Great Alpine Roadwere upgraded. Works included track upgrading on theMount Feathertop Tracks and installing a viewing platformand upgrading access tracks at Carmichael Falls.•Works were undertaken at Balaclava Mine, Whroo HistoricReserve, to alleviate the risk associated with mineshafts andaccess around the site.• Significant repair works were made to the El DoradoDredge to avoid rapid deterioration of the maindredge structure.•Works to improve access, including disabled access, toPortsea Pier were completed at a total cost of $300,000on behalf of the Central Coastal Board.31

5 Wildfire ManagementIn its management activities, Parks Victoria deals with fire inits dual aspects – both as a destroyer of life and property andas a regenerator of landscapes and natural values. Our staffare well trained in both fighting fires – whether startednaturally by lightning strikes or deliberately or carelessly bypeople – and in using fire during prescribed burning programsto reduce fuel and ensure that fire-dependent ecosystemsremain healthy.WildfiresParks Victoria works in partnership with the Departmentof Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) to play asignificant role in preventing and suppressing wildfire onpublic land. During the year, as in the previous three years,below-average rainfall resulted in a severe fire season thatkept both Parks Victoria and NRE firefighters in a state ofheightened preparedness.During the 2000-2001 fire season, the benefits of increasedstaff training, technology advances and the use of specialisedaircraft became clearly evident. Despite the 732 wildfires thatNRE/Parks Victoria staff attended – well above the 20-yearaverage of 630 wildfires – just 32,550 hectares of landwas burnt, significantly below the 20-year average of108,654 hectares.Many of the major fires these crews attended were onprivate land adjacent to public land. The most serious ofthese was a large grass and woodland fire near Stawell thatburnt approximately 15,000 hectares of private land. In total,NRE/Parks Victoria staff responded to 150 wildfires on privateproperty in Country Victoria at the request of the CountryFire Authority.The largest fires on public land occurred in early Januarywhen the Portland area and the Alpine National Parkexperienced severe lightning activity, resulting inapproximately 150 fires over three days. Fortunately, thesefires were contained without a significant area being burnt.Following last calendar year’s central and regional fire trainingprograms, Parks Victoria now has 556 trained firefightersout of a total combined firefighting force of 1200 full-timeNRE/Parks Victoria staff. In addition, as many as 780 temporaryfirefighting staff work during summer to undertake wildfireprevention and suppression works.Season Statistics:740720700680660640620600580Number of Fires732ThisSeason63020 YearAverage120,000100,00080,00060,00040,00020,0000Hectares Burnt32,550ThisSeason108,65420 YearAverageLeft to right: Parks Victoria plays a significant role in preventing and suppressingwildfire on public land.32

Wildfire CausesA third of all wildfires on public land during the 2000-2001fire season were caused by lightning and a further third bysuspected deliberate and malicious lighting. These incidencerates compare with annual averages of 26 percent forlightning and 24 percent for arson.Of the fires that occurred on land managed by Parks Victoria,61 percent were started by lightning, resulting in 2275hectares of land burnt. The table below details the mostsignificant causes of wildfires.Wildfire causes - National ParksRelight – Burning off 1.6%Burning Off (Departmental Prescribed)950ha. (25.3%)Burning Off (stubble, grass, scrub) 8.2%Campfire, barbecue 0.2%Deliberate lighting (malicious) 114ha. (3.6%)Lightning 2,275ha. (60.8%)Prescribed BurningWhile Parks Victoria plays an important role with NREin fire prevention and suppression, our management activitiesto minimise the risk of future fires and to ensure theregeneration of fire-dependent ecosystems are equallyimportant. Parks Victoria plans and implements all ecologicalburning on its estate, which is governed by the InterimGuidelines and Procedures for Ecological Burning on PublicLand in Victoria.Although Parks Victoria had planned to conductapproximately 1200 prescribed burns covering an area of294,000 hectares during the burning season from Marchto May 2001, unfavourable weather conditions resulted inthe completion of only 415 burns involving 71,000 hectares.Significant rainfalls in mid-April 2001 hampered theprescribed burning program in the State’s Southern andEastern Districts, and while burning continued in the northeast,Grampians and Mallee Districts, moist conditions andcooler temperatures meant we did not achieve the targetburn coverage.Prescribed Burn Performance:Planned Complete Total Completed BurnsEcologicalFuel ReductionNo. Area No. Area No. Area No. Area No. AreaParks Victoria Managed Estate 136 46849 78 27048 214 73897 19 1996 59 25052All Public Land 649 209470 415 65749 1064 275219 32 936 139 64807* Note: The table above does not include statistics for silviculture burns (burns designed to create regrowth of original forest species).33

Left: Parks Victoria has over five hundred trained firefighters to undertake wildfire prevention and suppression works.Right: Wildfires in the US states of Idaho and Montana were the worst seen in many years.Fire PlanningBefore each fire season, NRE’s Fire Management Divisionprepares fire operations plans for each fire district. Theseplans cover the prescribed burning, fire access track worksand fire infrastructure maintenance to be done. Parks Victoriastaff help to develop these plans by preparing the programfor ecological and fuel reduction burns and scheduling thefire operations in parks.During the year, Parks Victoria helped complete NRE’sFire Protection Plans for the Gippsland Fire Region andAlexandra and Broadford Fire Districts. Following communityconsultation, the Fire Protection Plan for Port Phillip is beingamended and is expected to receive Ministerial approval byDecember 2001. Fire Protection Plans for the Bendigo andPortland Fire Districts are also well advanced and will bereleased for public comment by November 2001.Standards of CoverThe Standards of Cover for Fire Management is a series offour measures that identify NRE/Parks Victoria’s ability torespond to wildfire incidents. NRE completed a review ofthe standards before the 2000-2001 fire season and advisedParks Victoria that it had met its obligations for all fourmeasures. In the lead-up to the 2001-2002 fire season,maintaining and in some cases increasing our current levelsof trained and accredited firefighters will be a key challengefor the organisation.US FiresIn July 2000, the United States experienced the worst wildfireseason in many years. Parks Victoria sent 14 staff as partof a 92-member team from Australia and New Zealand whotravelled to the Northern Rocky Mountain states of Idahoand Montana to provide incident management and aviationsupport to the US firefighting agencies. The Australians andNew Zealanders received extensive acknowledgement fromthe US authorities for their contribution.34

Parks Victoria aims to conserve, protect and enhance environmental and cultural assets.35

Compliance with Building Act 1993Parks Victoria is managing all of its buildings and work sites inaccordance with the requirements of the Building Act 1993.National Competition PolicyIn February 2000, PriceWaterhouseCoopers prepared a reportfor Parks Victoria that developed a cost allocation model toallow Parks Victoria to introduce market-based fees andcharges to its various sites. At the time the report wasfinalised, it was recognised that there were a number of gapsto be addressed before the cost allocation model could becompleted and used by Parks Victoria.Work undertaken to date includes:• Engagement of consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers todevelop a Cost Allocation Model expanded to incorporatethe Melbourne Metropolitan Region;• Identification and analysis of data requirements;• Identification and implementation of model improvementsand revisions;• Population of the model with current data where available.Future work in this area will include revisiting areas ofconcern and updating the model (where possible) for anychanges in Parks Victoria's operating environment andallowing it to be used to assist in the completion of areview of the competitive neutrality of Parks Victoria'spricing policies.The work will therefore include:•a review of fees and charges to include mooring fees;• determining the GST impact on the model;• applying the Cost Allocation Model to fees & charges,ensuring that fees are benchmarked against the model;• making recommendations to the Parks Victoria Board.Additional Departmental InformationDetails in respect of the information items contained in section9.1.3 (iv) of the Financial Management Act 1994 have beenretained by the accountable officer and made available toMinisters, Members of Parliament and the public on request.SponsorsParks Victoria would like to thank the following organisationsfor their support:3AW3AKFox-FMChannel 9Ford AustraliaSunday Herald-SunConsultanciesConsultants engaged in 2000-2001 over $100,000:None.Total number of consultants engaged in 2000-2001:One, value $90,400.Management PlansAs of 30 June 2001, there were 63 approved managementplans covering 34 National Parks, three Wilderness Parks, 30State Parks and nine other parks. In December, the Ministerreleased a draft plan reviewing the integrated managementof Wilsons Promontory National Park and Tidal River.We continued consultations with indigenous communitiesand Native Title claimants regarding the final plan for YarraRanges National Park and are continuing similar discussionsfor the final plans for Grampians National Park and theDiscovery Bay Parks (Mount Richmond National Park, CapeNelson State Park and Discovery Bay Coastal Park).We also worked on draft plans for Terrick Terrick NationalPark, Cape Liptrap Coastal Park, Beechworth Historic Park,Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve, Cape Conran CoastalPark and Long Forest Flora Reserve.We continued to monitor the priority tasks contained inmanagement plans to ensure they were being implemented.Parks Victoria contributed to a series of ‘Best Practice in ParkManagement’ reports as part of the Australian and NewZealand Environment and Conservation Council’s (ANZECC)Working Group on Protected Area Management. Two reportswere published during the year, namely, Best Practice inProtected Area Management Planning and Best Practicein Historic Places Management.37

Kinglake National Park.Changes to the Park SystemParks Victoria’s estate grew by a further 13,261 hectares afterthe following additions to parks were made on 25 January2001 under the National Parks (Amendment) Act 2000:• Alpine National Park (13,135 hectares) – including theMount McKay/Rocky Valley area that was excised fromthe park in 1997 (285 hectares) and the Wongungarrawilderness (12,850 hectares);• Organ Pipes National Park (13 hectares) – an area alongJacksons Creek donated by the City of Brimbank;•Yarra Ranges National Park (3 hectares) – four smaller areasin or on the boundaries of the Armstrong Creek and UpperYarra catchments;• Kamarooka State Park (94 hectares) – an area on thesouthern edge of the park including Whipstick Malleeand Box-Ironbark vegetation, which was purchased withassistance from the City of Greater Bendigo;Corporate Performance IndicatorsIncreased visits to parks close to Metropolitan Melbourne,particularly to Mornington Peninsula National Park, AlbertPark and St Kilda Pier, boosted the number of visit days by300,000 to 38.3 million, exceeding our target range of34.3 – 38 million visit days.Community perception of our performance as an efficientenvironmental and cultural heritage manager also increasedfrom the previous financial year, with rates all slightlyexceeding the target ranges set. The community perception ofthe adequacy of recreational opportunities in country Victoriaalso improved, with the rate exceeding its target range by4 percent, to a high level of 91 percent.General community awareness of Parks Victoria (aidedawareness) exceeded the target range by 7 percent.• Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park (16 hectares) –formerfreehold land on the Boole Poole Peninsula.38

Table 1: 2000-2001 Corporate Performance MeasuresIndicator Actual Actual Actual Target Actual Result against1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2000/01 TargetVisit days (million)Missed Met ExceededParks 25.2 27.8 27.8 27.6 - 30.6 29.9Piers 7.0 6.6 6.9 6.7 - 7.4TOTAL 32.2 34.4 34.7 34.3 - 38 38.3 •Visitor Satisfaction IndexParks 70 73 69 70 - 75 66 •Piers 50 66 54 60 - 65 52Community Satisfaction (%)Community Satisfaction ofParks Victoria as an environmentalmanager – “Good” or “Very Good” 75 72 80 75 - 80 83 •Parks Victoria as an “efficient”or “very efficient” manager 76 77 80 75 - 80 83 •Adequacy of MetropolitanRecreational Opportunities –“Good” or “Very Good” 88 87 87 85 - 90 86 •Adequacy of Country VictoriaRecreational Opportunities –“Good” or “Very Good” 83 84 80 82 - 87 91 •Parks Victoria’s managementperformance relating to National,State and Regional Parks andConservation Reserves– “Good” or “Very Good” 78 75 82 79 - 84 82 •Parks Victoria’s managementperformance relating toMelbourne’s major metropolitanparks “Good” or “Very Good” 72 74 65 70 - 75 67 •Parks Victoria’s managementperformance relating to bays,piers and selected waterways“Good” or “Very Good” 54 55 56 55 - 60 59 •Parks Victoria’s managementperformance relating to culturalheritage assets “Good” or“Very Good” na na 56 53 - 58 70 •13 1963Number of calls to ParksVictoria’s telephoneinformation service 106,498 115,689 132,280 135,000 140,603 •Customer satisfaction withinformation available fromParks Victoria’s telephoneinformation service 86 90 91 87 - 92 88 •Visits to Parks Victoria Websites na 4.3M 7.8M 8.0M 11.9M •Community awareness ofParks Victoria (aided awareness) 62 84 79 70 – 75 82 •% of structures with less than5 years expected life for assetsmanaged in the bay 18 14.9 14 13 13 •Number of volunteer dayscontributed towards delivery ofParks Victoria’s programsand services na 27,222 22,015 17,000 - 19,000 17,533 •39

7 Financial Statements40

Financial Review of Operations and Financial ConditionThree Year Financial Summary* 2001 2000 1999$’000 $’000 $’000Revenue From Government 104,464 99,550 85,201Other Revenue 20,085 30,595 26,387Total Revenue 124,549 130,145 111,588Net Operating Result (2,063) 12,704 (3,229)Net Cash Flow From Operations 7,571 (4,289) 12,660Total Assets 611,627 607,245 606,520Total Liabilities 26,865 23,705 35,684* Parks Victoria was formed as a public authority on 3 July 1998.In the financial year ending 30 June 2001, Parks Victoria’s operating result was not significantlyaffected by any unusual events.Some significant aspects of this year’s results compared to the prior year were:• Land sales revenue of $5.2M is an increase of $4.1M on the previous year.This level of funding is not expected to continue beyond next year and will be at a reduced level.• No revenue was recognised for “assets provided from external parties for nil consideration”;last year an amount of $10.2M was included.• Expenditure increased from previous year due to increases in environmental programs and additionalexpenditure on programs which were carried over from the previous year.Subsequent eventsNil41

Statement of Financial Performance for Year Ended 30 June 2001Notes 2001 2000$’000 $’000REVENUE FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIESRevenue from Operating ActivitiesParks & Reserves Trust Funding 4 62,038 55,662Government Funding 5 42,426 43,888Assets Provided from External Parties at Nil Consideration 6 0 10,176Other Revenue 7 18,455 18,656Total Revenue from Operating Activities 122,919 128,382REVENUE FROM OUTSIDE OPERATING ACTIVITIESInterest Revenue 1,400 1,611Proceeds on Sale of Plant and Motor Vehicles 230 152Total Revenue from Outside Operating Activities 1,630 1,763Total Revenue from Ordinary Activities 124,549 130,145EXPENSES FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIESOperations 8 116,031 107,525Parks Victoria Grants Program 9 3,931 4,046Depreciation 10 6,650 5,870Total Expenses from Ordinary Activities 126,612 117,441NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) (2,063) 12,704Net Increase/(Decrease) in Asset Revaluation Reserve 17 3,285 0TOTAL CHANGES IN EQUITY OTHER THAN THOSE RESULTINGFROM TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS AS OWNERS 1,222 12,704The accompanying notes form part of these Financial Statements.42

Statement of Financial Position at 30 June 2001Notes 2001 2000$’000 $’000CURRENT ASSETSCash 13,523 8,743Receivables 11 2,881 1,936Prepayments 12 25 635Total Current Assets 16,429 11,314NON-CURRENT ASSETSReceivables 11 92 93Fixed Assets 13 595,106 595,838Total Non-Current Assets 595,199 595,931TOTAL ASSETS 611,627 607,245CURRENT LIABILITIESCreditors and Accruals 14 11,253 9,753Provisions 15 5,422 4,509Total Current Liabilities 16,675 14,262NON-CURRENT LIABILITIESProvisions 15 10,190 9,443Total Non-Current Liabilities 10,190 9,443TOTAL LIABILITIES 26,865 23,705NET ASSETS 584,762 583,540EQUITYContributed Capital 16 271,935 271,935Asset Revaluation Reserve 17 305,415 302,130Retained Earnings 18 7,412 9,475TOTAL EQUITY 584,762 583,540The accompanying notes form part of these Financial Statements.43

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 30 June 2001Notes 2001 2000$’000 $’000CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIESReceipts from Parks Charge 62,038 55,662Receipts from Government for Operations 42,266 46,554Receipts from Customers/Other Sources 15,099 10,812Interest received 1,400 1,611Receipts relating to Goods and Services Tax 11,599 0Payments to Suppliers and Employees (105,889) (109,947)Payments to Parks Victoria Grants Program (3,048) (4,376)Payments to Government for Revenue collected from National Parks (4,384) (4,605)Payments Relating to Goods and Services Tax (11,510) 0Net Cash from Operating Activities 19 7,571 (4,289)CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIESPayments for Property, Plant, Equipment (3,021) (2,948)Proceeds from sale of Property, Plant and Equipment 230 152Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (2,791) (2,798)Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash 4,780 (7,087)Cash at the Beginning of the Year 8,743 15,830CASH AT THE END OF THE YEAR 13,523 8,743CONSISTING OF:COMMITTED CASH 6,912 6,167NON-COMMITTED CASH 6,611 2,576The accompanying notes form part of these Financial Statements.44

Notes to the Financial StatementsThese notes form part of and should be read in conjunctionwith the financial statements of Parks Victoria for the yearended 30 June 2001.1.1 ESTABLISHMENTParks Victoria was formed as a public authority on 3 July 1998under the Parks Victoria Act 1998. The Parks Victoria Act 1998was given Royal Assent on 26 May 1998 and was proclaimedon 3 July 1998.1.2 OBJECTIVES AND FUNDINGThe objective of Parks Victoria is ‘to provide an outstandingpark and waterway system, protected and enhanced forpeople, forever’.Parks Victoria receives the majority of its funding from theVictorian Government for the management of Victoria’sNational/State Parks and Reserves and from the Parks andReserves Trust for the management of metropolitan parksand waterways. The Trust is funded by a charge levied onproperties within the metropolitan area.2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANTACCOUNTING POLICIES2.1 GeneralThe financial statements are prepared in accordance withthe Financial Management Act 1994, as amended, andincorporate Australian Accounting Standards and othermandatory professional requirements.Unless otherwise stated, amounts in the financial statementshave been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars.2.2 Basis of AccountingThe financial statements have been prepared on an accrualand a going concern basis. Unless otherwise stated, valuesreported are stated at historical cost. Revenue is brought toaccount as detailed in the Revenue Recognition Policy(note 2.8).Valuation of AssetsParks Victoria only recognises assets on land it controls ascommittee of management. Parks Victoria also managesparks on land owned by the Crown and Melbourne Parks &Waterways and those assets are recorded in the land owners’financial records.Parks Victoria manages capital works for both the Government(through the Department of Natural Resources & Environment)and Melbourne Parks & Waterways. Those assets are fundedby and handed back to the Government and Melbourne Parks& Waterways once completed.Valuations are at cost except where otherwise stated.For the purposes of government accounting, independentvaluations are undertaken at least every five years by theValuer General’s Office, based on the adjacent sitemethodology, which is a means of estimating fair valuefor assets controlled by Parks Victoria (see note 13.2).Assets acquired from other government entities are recordedeither at values shown in the balance sheet of the acquiredentity or at an estimated fair value.Crown LandThe financial statements list location and values of CrownLand over which Parks Victoria is committee of management.This Crown Land remains the property of the State of Victoria.Crown Land is used for heritage and environmentalconservation, recreation, leisure, tourism and navigation.2.3 DepreciationDepreciation is applied to completed fixed assets includingland improvements, buildings and improvements, piers andjetties and river improvements, plant and machinery andmotor vehicles.Work in progress is valued at cost and depreciationcommences on completion of the works.Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis to write offthe net cost or revalued amount of each non-current assetover its expected useful life to the entity. The expected usefullife of each asset category is as follows:Asset CategoryExpected Life (Years)Land Improvements 10 – 20Buildings and Improvements 50Piers, Jetties and River Improvements 20 – 50Plant and Machinery 10Motor Vehicles 4Other 3.3 – 10Depreciation rates are reviewed annually and, if necessary,adjusted to reflect the most recent assessments of the usefullives of the respective assets. Land and antiques are notdepreciated.45

Notes to the Financial Statements2.4 LeasingOperating Leases are not capitalised as Parks Victoria does notsubstantially assume all the risks and benefits associated withthe leased assets.2.5 Employee EntitlementsEmployee entitlement on-cost expenses such as payroll tax,Work Cover and similar on-costs have been included in therecognition of the following liabilities.Wages and Salaries, Annual Leave and Sick LeaveLiabilities for wages and salaries and annual leave arerecognised and measured as the amount unpaid at thereporting date at nominal pay rates in respect of employeeservices rendered up to that date.Sick leave payments are charged as an expense when incurredand no provision is made for sick leave entitlements in thefinancial statements.Long Service LeaveA liability for long service leave is recognised based onthe present value of expected future payments to be madein respect of service provided by employees up to thereporting date.The basis for calculating the current liability for long serviceleave is a percentage of the total provision based on priorexperience.SuperannuationThe majority of Parks Victoria employees are covered forSuperannuation by the Local Authorities SuperannuationBoard and the Victorian Superannuation Board.2.6 ReceivablesTrade receivables are carried at amounts due less a provisionfor doubtful debts. A provision for doubtful debts isrecognised to the extent that recovery of the outstandingreceivable balance is considered less than likely. Credit salesare normally on 30-day terms.2.7 Creditors and Accrued ExpensesLiabilities are recognised for amounts to be paid in the futurefor goods and services received, whether or not billed to theentity. Trade liabilities are normally settled on 30 days fromstatement or earlier.2.8 Revenue Recognition PolicyRevenue is recognised when invoiced by Parks Victoria orwhen external grants/funding are received.Where external grants/funding received has not yet been spentand there is a reciprocal transfer of the asset to the externalparty upon completion, then Parks Victoria records thisamount as deferred revenue.2.9 Recoverable Amounts of Non-Current AssetsAs Parks Victoria is a not-for-profit entity the recoverableamounts test in the Australian Accounting Standard AAS10“Accounting for the Revaluation of Non-Current Assets” hasnot been applied.3 CASH FLOWSFor the purpose of the statements of cash flows, cash includescash on hand and cash at bank.The range of employer contribution rates to these funds isbetween 8 percent and 18 percent. There are no loansbetween the Super Funds and Parks Victoria. At the reportingdate there were outstanding contributions owing of $11,161.Parks Victoria contributes as recommended by the Actuary ofeach Fund an agreed percentage of total salaries and wages tothe Funds.There are no unfunded liabilities in respect of Parks Victoriaemployees who are members of the superannuation schemes.The last actuarial assessment date was 30 June 2000.The Unfunded Superannuation Liability relating to ParksVictoria staff who are currently members of the State SuperBoard is assumed by the Department of Treasury and Finance.46

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’0004 PARKS & RESERVES TRUST FUNDINGThe Parks & Reserves Trust Funding is a charge levied on commercial and domestic propertiesthroughout the Melbourne metropolitan area of which the bulk is paid to Parks Victoria.Parks Charge 56,756 54,483Land sales 5,282 1,179Total Parks & Reserves Trust Funding 62,038 55,6625 GOVERNMENT FUNDINGNational/State Parks and Reserves funding 33,652 34,248Program initiatives (including 4WD Program, Good Neighbour Program) 2,360 2,008Capital works for the Department of Natural Resources & Environment 6,414 7,632Total Government Funding 42,426 43,8886 ASSETS PROVIDED FROM EXTERNAL PARTIES AT NIL CONSIDERATIONAssets transferred from Historic Buildings Management Committee 0 5,244Assets transferred from Rosebud Foreshore Committee of Management 0 3,662Other 0 1,270Total Assets Provided from External Parties at Nil Consideration 0 10,1767 OTHER REVENUEAccommodation/camping fees 3,667 3,548Funding sponsored by external parties 1,654 1,954Government grants 1,705 1,400Rent, leases & licenses 3,371 2,941Park entrance fees 2,001 2,057Yarra Bend Trust 1,604 1,634Services provided to the Department of Natural Resources & Environment 1,070 1,096Fire suppression costs, recovered 763 737Other 2,620 3,289Total Other Revenue 18,455 18,6568 TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSESLabour * 46,337 44,046Materials 6,586 4,490Transport 5,927 5,090Contracts 33,612 29,968External services 15,741 16,140Payment to Government for revenue collected from National Parks 4,384 4,607Other 2,784 1,413Payments for works sponsored by external parties 660 1,771*Includes contributions to the Superannuation Funds amounting to $3.6 million (last year $3.5 million).Total Operating Expenses 116,031 107,52547

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’0009 PARKS VICTORIA GRANTS PROGRAMPayments are made to Local Government, other agencies,community groups and program operating costs 3,931 4,046Total Parks Victoria Grants Program 3,931 4,04610 DEPRECIATIONLand improvements 2,649 2,169Buildings and improvements 1,720 1,562Piers, jetties and river improvements 1,411 1,252Other 870 887Total Depreciation 6,650 5,87011 RECEIVABLESGross receivables 3,257 2,270Provision for doubtful debts (284) (241)(An amount of $6,437 was written off to bad debts during the year).Net Receivables 2,973 2,029Current Assets 2,881 1,936Non-Current Assets 92 93Net Receivables 2,973 2,02912 PREPAYMENTSPrepayments 25 635Total Prepayments 25 63513 FIXED ASSETS13.1 Asset CategoryLand (at cost)Opening Balance 27 27Additions 0 0Closing Balance Land (at cost) 27 27Crown Land (at fair value)Opening Balance 485,875 478,808Additions 1,327 7,067Closing Balance Crown Land (at fair value) (Note 13.2) 487,202 485,87548

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’000Antiques (At cost)Opening Balance 1,479 1,479Additions 0 0Closing Balance Antiques (at cost) 1,479 1,479Works in Progress (at cost)Opening Balance 3,142 5,573Additions 2,839 3,833Completed Fixed Assets (3,292) (6,264)Closing Balance Works in Progress (at cost) 2,689 3,142Land improvements (at cost)Opening Balance 45,253 48,593Additions/Adjustments 841 *(3,340)Closing Balance land improvements (at cost) 46,094 45,253Accumulated DepreciationOpening Balance 4,819 7,835Depreciation for the Year 2,649 2,169Adjustments 7 *(5,186)Closing Balance Accumulated Depreciation 7,475 4,819Net Book Value – Land Improvements 38,619 40,435Piers, Jetties and River Improvements (at cost)Opening Balance 19,604 19,362Additions/Adjustments 2,939 *242Closing Balance – Piers, Jetties and River Improvements (at cost) 22,543 19,604Accumulated depreciationOpening Balance 2,436 3,855Depreciation for the year 1,411 1,252Adjustments 1 *(2,670)Closing Balance Accumulated Depreciation 3,848 2,436Net Book Value – Piers, Jetties and River Improvements 18,695 17,167Buildings and Improvements (at cost)Opening Balance 45,950 46,321Additions/Adjustments 1,272 *(371)Closing Balance Buildings and Improvements (at cost) 47,222 45,950Accumulated depreciationOpening Balance 3,022 5,200Depreciation for the year 1,720 1,562Adjustments (6) *(3,740)Closing Balance Accumulated Depreciation 4,736 3,022Net Book Value – Buildings and Improvements 42,486 42,92849

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’000Other (at cost)Opening Balance 6,603 8,646Additions/Adjustments 377 *(2,043)Retirements (603) 0Closing Balance Other (at cost) 6,377 6,603Accumulated DepreciationOpening Balance 1,818 3,340Depreciation for the year 870 887Adjustments/Retirements (220) *(2,409)Closing Balance Accumulated Depreciation 2,468 1,818Net Book Value – Other 3,909 4,785TOTAL FIXED ASSETS NET BOOK VALUE 595,106 595,838SummaryFixed Assets (at fair value) 487,202 485,875Fixed Assets (at cost) 126,431 122,058Less Accumulated Depreciation (18,527) (12,095)TOTAL FIXED ASSETS NET BOOK VALUE 595,106 595,838* Reflects adjustment to Fixed Assets opening balance at 3 July 1998.The William Ricketts Sanctuary, located in the Dandenong Ranges, contains more than 70 in-ground Aboriginal sculptures made by thelate William Ricketts. These assets are of cultural and heritage significance. A valuation of these assets is not able to be determined.Area $M(Hectares)13.2 CROWN LANDLocationYou Yangs Regional Park 1,960 1.96Eildon Water Reserve 533 0.53Dandenong Police Paddocks 499 4.24Bay Assets *498 Not ValuedLighthouse Reserves 348 1.44Dandenong Ranges Gardens 278 3.10Buchan Caves Reserve 260 0.20Serendip Sanctuary 227 0.70Albert Park 225 403.11Plenty Gorge 208 2.88Werribee Park 164 6.00Yarra Valley 139 31.16Vaughan Springs 100 0.19Coolart 79 1.4050

Notes to the Financial StatementsArea $M(Hectares)Mt Dandenong Observatory Reserve 72 0.48Westgate 35 12.01Olinda Golf Course 34 0.37Maribyrnong Valley 25 0.93Dandenong Valley 6 1.01Historic Buildings 5 3.41Peach Tree Creek 4 0.05Point Cook/Cheetham 4 0.02Herring Island 3 7.00Orbost Rain Forest 1 0.03Rosebud Foreshore 91 4.99Total Crown Land 5,798 487.2* This represents sea beds located at Swan Bay (220 ha), Queenscliff (137 ha) and 141 ha being sea beds under 31 piers locatedwithin Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay.2001 2000$’000 $’00014 CREDITORS AND ACCRUED EXPENSESCurrentCreditors and Accruals 11,051 6,045Deferred Revenue 202 3,708Total Creditors and Accrued Expenses 11,253 9,75315 PROVISIONSEmployee Provisions – CurrentAnnual Leave 4,511 3,666Long Service Leave 911 843Total Employee Provisions – Current 5,422 4,509Employee Provisions – Non-CurrentLong Service Leave 10,190 9,443Total Employee Provisions – Non-Current 10,190 9,443Total Provisions 15,612 13,95216 CONTRIBUTED CAPITALOpening Balance 271,935 271,935Total Contributed Capital 271,935 271,93551

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’00017 ASSET REVALUATION RESERVEOpening Balance 302,130 302,130* Revaluation of Rosebud Foreshore Assets 3,285 0Total Asset Revaluation Reserve 305,415 302,130* Parks Victoria was appointed committee of management for the Rosebud Foreshore on 13 June 2000. A discounted cashflowmethodology was used to value the assets transferred from the previous committee. These assets were subsequently valued bythe Valuer-General using the adjacent site method at $6.95 million.18 RETAINED EARNINGSMovement in Retained EarningsOpening Balance 9,475 (3,229)Add transfer (from)/to Statement of Financial Performance (2,063) 12,704Closing Retained Earnings 7,412 9,47519 RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATINGACTIVITIES TO OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS)Operating Profit/(Loss) (2,063) 2,528Depreciation 6,650 5,870Provision for doubtful debts expense 49 170Loss/(Gain) on sale of assets 152 (152)Change in Assets and LiabilitiesDecrease/(Increase) in receivables (987) (221)Decrease/(Increase) in other current assets 610 (506)Increase/(Decrease) in provisions 1,660 396Increase/(Decrease) in creditors and accrued expenses 1,500 (12,374)Net Cash from Operating Activities 7,571 (4,289)20 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES20.1 Other Outstanding ClaimsThere are minor claims against Parks Victoria arising out of various matters connected with its business dealings.21 COMMITMENTSCapital CommitmentsValue of commitments for Capital Expenditure at 30 June 2001 for the supply of works,services and materials not provided for in the financial statements:Not later than one year 6,639 6,167Later than one year and not later than five years 600 0Later than five years 0 0Total Capital Commitments 7,239 6,16752

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’000Lease CommitmentsTotal lease expenditure contracted for at balance date but not provided for in the financialstatements in relation to non-cancellable operating leases is as follows:Not later than one year 3,950 3,723Later than one year and not later than five years 4,886 2,445Later than five years 0 692Total Non-Cancellable Operating Leases 8,836 6,86022 RESOURCES PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGEDuring 2000/01 significant community input in the form of voluntary labour was providedto Parks Victoria. Volunteers and Friends were involved in a range of activities includingtree planting, revegetation, landscaping, development of interpretation programs,delivery of education and school holiday programs, Camp Hosting, wild life monitoring,nursery maintenance and propagation, track clearing and construction, research,Friends Conference, Clean Up Australia, Spring Planting Festival and other events.Volunteers have also been involved through volunteer programs such as Environment Corp,Green Corp and Conservation Volunteers Australia.23 AUDITOR'S REMUNERATIONAmounts paid/payable to –Victorian Auditor General’s Office for the audit of the financial statements 40 3824 RELATED PARTIES24.1 Responsible PersonsThe names of persons who were Board Members at any time during the year ended30 June 2001 were: P. Buzzard, L. Campbell, K. Fagg, P. Galbally, J. Gilmour, P. Robinson,D. Saunders, J. Tongs and G. Wescott.The name of the responsible Minister for the whole of the year ended 30 June 2001was The Hon. Sherryl Garbutt MP.The name of the accountable officer for the whole of the year ended 30 June 2001was M. Stone.53

Notes to the Financial Statements2001 2000$’000 $’00024.2 Board Members RemunerationTotal remuneration received or due and receivable by Board Membersfrom the reporting entity was: 113 111The number of Board Members of the reporting entity includedin this figure is shown below:Income of: Number Number$0 to $9,999 1 0$10,000 to $19,999 7 8$20,000 to $29,999 1 124.3 Executive Officers RemunerationIncome received by Executive Officers whose incomeis more than $100,000 from the reporting entity was: 1,893 1,962The number of Executive Officers of the reporting entity includedin this figure is shown below:Income of : Number Number$100,000 to $109,999 2 2$110,000 to $119,999 3 2$120,000 to $129,999 0 4$130,000 to $139,999 4 4$140,000 to $149,999 2 1$150,000 to $159,999 1 1$160,000 to $169,999 1 0$180,000 to $189,999 0 1$190,000 to $199,999 1 0Remuneration includes total employment package (including superannuation)paid plus bonuses earned for the prior year, annual leave and long service leaveaccrued over a number of years and paid on resignation.24.4 Other Transactions of Board Members andBoard Member-related Entities Nil Nil54

Notes to the Financial Statements25 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTSTotal carrying amount as per the balance sheetAggregate net fair value2001 2000 2001 2000$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000Cash 13,523 8,743 13,523 8,743Receivables – Trade 2,973 2,029 2,973 2,029Total Financial Assets 16,496 10,772 16,496 10,772Trade Creditors and Accruals 11,253 9,753 11,253 9,753Total Financial Liabilities 11,253 9,753 11,253 9,753Cash, cash equivalents: The carrying amountapproximates fair value because of their shortterm to maturity.Trade receivables and payables: The carryingamount approximates fair value.The weighted average cash interest rateearned for 2000/01 was 5.5%.26 CONSOLIDATION ELIMINATION ENTRIES*Intra *Intra **Inter **Inter2001 2000 2001 2000$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000During 2000/01 transactions were undertakenwith other State Government controlledentities that amounted to:Assets 0 8,974 0 0Liabilities 0 0 0 0Revenues 105,305 99,384 977 824Expenses 8,566 8,674 3,946 3,927* Intra-transactions are those transactionsundertaken within the Department ofNatural Resources & Environment portfolio.** Inter-transactions are those transactionsundertaken outside the Department ofNatural Resources & Environment portfolio.27 POST-BALANCE DATE EVENTSNil55

Statutory CertificateWe certify that the Financial Statements of Parks Victoria havebeen prepared in accordance with the Financial ManagementAct 1994.In our opinion, the Statement of Financial Position, Statementof Financial Performance, Statement of Cash Flows and Notesto the Financial Statements, present fairly the financialtransactions for the year ended 30 June 2001 and thefinancial position of Parks Victoria at that date.At the date of signing the statements we are not aware ofany circumstances which would render any particularsincluded in the Statements misleading or inaccurate.P. BuzzardChairmanM. StoneChief ExecutiveDated at Melbourne, 24 August 2001.56

Designed by Scimitar and printed by SR Frankland on 100% recycled paper. Written and edited by Diny Slamet.Legislative FrameworkParks Victoria was established in 1996 and reports tothe Minister for Environment and Consrvation, theHon. Sherryl Garbutt.Under the Parks Victoria Act 1998, Parks Victoriaprovides services to the State and its agencies for themanagement of parks, reserves and other land underthe control of the State. With the approval of theMinister it may also provide services to the owner ofany other land used for public purposes for themanagement of that land. The Act requires that incarrying out its functions, Parks Victoria must not act ina way that is not environmentally sound.Overall arrangements regarding the relationships andresponsibilities for providing services to the Departmentof Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) are setdown in a Management Services Agreement (MSA)between Parks Victoria, the Minister for Environmentand Conservation, the Secretary of the DNRE andMelbourne Parks and Waterways. Parks Victoria’smanagement services are delivered within State policy,contractual agreements and the specific responsibilitiesand powers of the Secretary (DNRE) under the recentlyamended National Parks Act 1975.In addition to the Management Services Agreement,Parks Victoria provides management services to YarraBend Trust (for Yarra Bend Park) and to MelbourneWater (for the reservoir parks). These agreements arebetween the respective client organisations andMelbourne Parks and Waterways and are coveredunder the broader arrangement for service provisionto DNRE.Parks Victoria’s responsibilities encompass themanagement of:• All areas reserved under the National Parks Act 1975• Open space, parks and waterways under section 110of the Water Industry Act 1994• Nominated Crown land reserved under the CrownLand (Reserves) Act 1978•Conservation reserves reserved under the CrownLand (Reserves) Act 1978 and managed inaccordance with approved land userecommendations under the Land ConservationAct 1970•Areas reserved under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992• Planning for all Ramsar sites and management ofsome sites• Piers and jetties in Port Phillip Bay and Western Portand recreational boating on these bays pursuant topowers conferred by the Marine Act 1988 and thePort of Melbourne Authority Act 1958• Other areas as specified under the Parks VictoriaAct 1998

Level 10, 535 Bourke StreetMelbourne Victoria 3000Facsimile: (03) 9629 5563Information CentrePhone 13 1963www.parkweb.vic.gov.au