Minimal Impact Guidelines for Schools - Parks Victoria

On arrivalStudents should be briefed on ways they can minimisetheir impact. By contacting the park office beforehand,you may be able to arrange for a park ranger to deliverminimal impact and safety messages as well as tellyour students about the great natural features of thepark.Remember to reinforce good practices throughout yourvisit by providing positive feedback to studentsfollowing the guidelines. Positive phrasing makesmessages more effective: Stay on track rather than don’t walk off track Observe and listen rather than don’t touch Leave things where they are instead of don’t take Healthy animals only eat their natural food ratherthan don’t feed the animalsAll native plants, animals, geological features,historical and cultural remains are protected by law innational parks. Ensure that they remain undisturbed.Tread lightlyTracks are carefullydesigned to allow peopleto visit naturalenvironments whileminimising the impact onthe environment. Stayingon track minimiseserosion, limits spreadingof diseases and weeds,and helps you from getting lost.Actions Stay on the track at all times – even if rough ormuddy don’t widen tracks or take shortcuts Using track edges, the sides of a track or cuttingcorners increases damage, erosion and visualscarring Walking through muddy sections keeps the impactto a narrow area Keep groups small. Smaller groups have a lowerimpact and enhances the experience for groupmembers On rougher tracks, stay on rocks and hard groundwherever possible. Avoid stepping on vegetation Cutting new tracks is illegal Do not mark tracks with cairns, tape or othermaterials. This is unsightly and can confuse otherpark users Avoid the spread of phytophthora and other soilbornediseases Clean boots, tyres and camping equipment cleanbefore entering a new areaRubbishSchool groups are expected to take allrubbish out of a park with them.Rubbish left in a park can causehazards to animals and other parkusers.You may find bins in some parks. Bins full oroverflowing with rubbish attract animals looking forfood. Animals can get sick eating rubbish and therubbish may be spread throughout the park. To avoidthis, it is best to take your rubbish home with youeven if there is a bin provided.Actions Pack to minimise rubbish. Don’t take potentialrubbish such as bottles, cans and excess wrapping Take a plastic bag or container for your rubbish Carry out all rubbish including food scraps and lollywrappers Pick up rubbish that you may find along the way Make sure animals can’t get to your rubbish bag –plastic bags full of rubbish are a target for animalslooking for food. Take care especially at nightwhen camping.Human wastesHuman wastes can contaminate waterwaysand cause disease.Actions Make use of toilet facilities where they exist, even ifyou don’t really need to go In areas without toilets Take a hand trowel Choose a spot at least 100m away fromcampsites and watercourses Use a different area each time. This spread theimpact over a wider area Dig a hole 15cm deep. Bury all faecal waste andpaper, mixing it with soil to help decompositionand to discourage animals Carry out all personal items like sanitary pads andtamponsFor more information call the Parks Victoria Information Centreon 13 1963 or visit our website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au