DECEMBER 2018 NO 275 NATURE IN THE NEXT TERM PROTECTING CENTRAL WEST FORESTS GREAT OCEAN ROAD LAND GRAB RIVERSIDE RESCUE RESPECTING GRASSLANDS ...
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NATURE IN THE NEXT TERM DECEMBER 2018 NO 275
PROTECTING CENTRAL WEST FORESTS
GREAT OCEAN ROAD LAND GRAB
RIVERSIDE RESCUE
RESPECTING GRASSLANDS
LANGWARRIN FLORA AND FAUNA RESERVE
LAUNCH OF LITTLE DESERT PODCAST
Be part of nature
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT Bruce McGregor 3 From the President
DIRECTOR Matt Ruchel
Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 4-5 Updates
ABN 34 217 717 593
Telephone: (03) 9341 6500 6-7 Nature in the next term
E-mail: vnpa@vnpa.org.au
Web: www.vnpa.org.au 8-10 Let’s protect it forever
OUR VISION
The Victorian National Parks Association 11-12 A ‘peak’ of interest
vision is to ensure Victoria is a place with
a diverse and healthy natural environment 13 Riverside rescue
that is protected, respected and enjoyed by all.
Everyone can help in the conservation 14-15 Great Ocean Road
of Victoria’s wild and beautiful places. national parks land grab
To find out how you can help, visit
www.vnpa.org.au/support 16-17 Evidence should rule
or call us on (03) 9341 6500.
EDITOR 18-19 A change of course
Meg Sobey
20 -21 Respect, protect and reconnect
PUBLISHING POLICY Melbourne’s grasslands
All advertisements should be compatible with
VNPA policies. Publication of an advertisement
22 International award for
does not imply endorsement by the VNPA Inc. of the
advertised product or service. The VNPA reserves Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park
the right to refuse any advertisement at any time.
23 Pleased as a platypus
Park Watch may be quoted without permission
provided that acknowledgement is made.
The opinions of contributors are not necessarily 24 -25 In Parks: Langwarrin
those of the VNPA Inc. Flora and Fauna Reserve
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS 26-27 An ode to the
You’re always welcome to contact the
editor to discuss ideas for articles. green grocer cicada
Phone the VNPA or email meg@vnpa.org.au
28-29 Meeting Maisie
COPY DEADLINE for March 2019 Park Watch
is 1 February 2019. 30-31 Special species:
DESIGN Mary Ferlin PRINTING Adams Print Port Jackson shark
FRONT COVER 32 NatureWatch stagwatching evenings
Wombat Forest supporters.
Photo by Sandy Scheltema. 33 Wild Families:
Park Watch ISSN 1324-4361 What’s under the sea?
Authorised by Matt Ruchel, Executive Director,
Victorian National Parks Association. 34-35 Wild Families:
Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053. Discovering Port Phillip Bay
2 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275
From the President
As this is my first column as I was absent at the recent AGM when Of course, none of this work would have
President, let me introduce myself. elected as President due to our eldest been possible without the support and
daughter’s wedding in Texas three generosity of Donors and Members – so
Growing up in western Victoria near days earlier. Visiting her allowed us to I thank you all for investing in VNPA and
the Grampians introduced me to appreciate many state and national the future of our natural environment.
nature. My father shared his love of parks in unfamiliar ecosystems. The
birds, growing native plants, and the national parks movement began For VNPA to continue this important
frogs and insects that inhabited our in the USA and has much to teach work, we must keep getting the
back yard. My appreciation of nature us about the design, management message out. Our ability to produce
grew with participation in Scouts; and and appreciation of parks. The the excellent reports and analyses
camping and bushwalking became that underlie our credibility will be
involvement of presidents, including
the focus for my vacations from strengthened by expanding our
LBJ and his wife Lady Bird Johnson
childhood. Completing an Agricultural supporter base, and I encourage you
was particularly important. Their love
Science degree involved studies of to share this edition of Park Watch
of Texas and its wildflowers ensured
botany, entomology, geology, soils and with those friends and family who
that natural areas were protected for
land management. love nature.
future generations.
Since meeting my wife Ann, my You may also consider making a
understanding of nature and planning How many of our prime ministers and donation – there's a form on the
has deepened substantially. premiers have left such a legacy? back cover.
My engagement in environmental As one of my first official duties After a hard-working year, we all need
activities has been through as President, I accompanied our a good break to relax and recharge.
community organisations. In particular Executive Director Matt Ruchel to the There are no better places to do this
with the restoration, catchment recent National Parks Associations than our magnificent national parks,
management and improvement of Council (NPAC) meeting in Brisbane. beaches, mountains, rivers and walking
nature-based recreation opportunities NPAC formulates approaches for tracks. These places are our natural
along the Merri Creek in northern nature protection in Australia and heritage, unique to Victoria. • PW
Melbourne. I know how essential though it does critical work, is
Friends groups are to NGOs and severely under-resourced. We visited Bruce McGregor, VNPA President
government agencies. an Indigenous Protected Area being
restored by passionate Traditional
I first became part of the VNPA with Owners, and a regeneration site
the ’Elp save the Alps campaign in hosted by a Friends group. It’s great
the 1970s and have been engaged to see nature returning to degraded
ever since. More recently I have farmland – and to hear the catbirds
been involved as a member of showing their approval!
the Conservation and Campaigns ... none of this work
Committee, in policy work and on
VNPA Council.
By the time you read this edition of would have been
Park Watch, the Victorian election will
have been decided. Council and staff possible without
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank
Euan Moore for his passion, insights
gave a lot of thought to the nature the support and
conservation initiatives we want the
and hard work as President over the
new government to enact. Matt and generosity of Donors
past three years, and for staying on
Council and continuing to contribute. staff worked extremely hard to make and Members.
our voice heard. Simply put, the state
We have a great deal of expertise on of Victoria needs to invest substantially
Council and the Committees, and I more funding – two to three times
thank all Councillors and Committee more – into nature conservation, park
members for serving VNPA. planning and management.
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 3
UPDATES
Thank you Colette Launch of our
Little Desert
Many of you will know Colette Findlay,
one of our dedicated volunteers. Colette
Podcast!
and her husband Graydon joined as
members in 1982 and were both involved
in the bushwalking group. In 1987 Colette Do you know about the significant role the beloved Little Desert
started volunteering at the VNPA. Ever National Park played in Victoria’s environmental history?
since, Colette has come into the office at
least once a week to perform reception, Listen to our new four-part podcast series to hear how the
administrative duties, supporting and campaign to protect the Little Desert and its diverse and beautiful
coordinating volunteers, and welcoming new flora and fauna from land clearing contributed dramatically to the
members. Colette’s skills and commitment changing of the political landscape in Victoria, by putting nature
were quickly recognised, and it wasn’t conservation and community consultation on the political agenda.
long before Colette was invited to join the
Listen on our website: www.vnpa.org.au/little-desert-podcast
Council. Colette served on Council from
1988–1996 and also performed the role Also available on Spotify or iTunes.
of Secretary from 1991–1996. Colette’s
The podcast was produced by VNPA with support from
valuable contribution was recognised with
Parks Victoria.
an Honorary Life Membership.
You can also look back on our previous article on the history
After being so generous with her time and
and timeline on the Little Desert dispute in the March 2018
skills for so many years, Colette has recently
edition of Park Watch. • PW
decided to finish her regular volunteer role to
spend more time with her family. However
she plans to join the Park Watch mailout
team on future occasions.
PHOTO: PATRICK KAVANAGH, FLICKR CC
We would like to acknowledge and thank
Colette for performing her volunteer role
with such incredible diligence and for being
so kind and friendly to all staff, members,
councillors, volunteers and supporters.
Congratulations on your 36 years of
service (so far!) protecting nature and
national parks. • PW
Members elect council at AGM
Thank you to all our Members who came along to Special thanks to Euan Moore for his three years of outstanding
the VNPA’s Annual General Meeting on 9 October. service as Council President. It is wonderful that he is able to
Attendees heard from guest speaker Graham continue as a Council member.
Atkinson, Chairperson of the Dhelkunya Dja Land
Management Board who spoke about the recently Thanks also to James Thyer and Russell Costello who have
adopted Joint Management Plan for the Dja Dja retired from Council. James served on Council since 2014 and
Wurrung Parks. we thank him for his valuable contribution. Russell served on
Council since 2010, during that time he performed the role
VNPA Members elected a new Council, and we of Vice-President and was also President from 2012–2014.
welcome Bruce McGregor (President), Gerard Russell’s enthusiasm and dedication is very much appreciated,
McPhee (Vice-President), Michael Forster and he will continue to play an important role as a member of the
(Secretary), Gary Allan (Treasurer), Lara Bickford, Conservation and Campaigns Committee.
Ann Birrell, Jan Hendrik Brueggemeier, Michael
Feller, Deb Henry, Dianne Marshall, Euan Moore To find out more about our dedicated volunteer Council visit:
and new Council member Paul Strickland. www.vnpa.org.au/about/council • PW
4 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275
Thank you
and Season’s Greetings!
Sincerest thanks from all of us at the
Victorian National Parks Association
for your support, encouragement and generosity.
Whether you’re a Donor, a Member, or a volunteer;
if you letter-boxed flyers, emailed your MP or
joined us at an event – we thank each and every one
of you for being part of the VNPA community.
HIBBERTIA SERICEA, MOUNT ARAPILES, VICTORIA. PHOTO: ED DUNENS, FLICKR CC
Welcome! New to the VNPA community
or want to learn more
This year
we welcomed about our work?
almost 200 new Members Join us for a stroll to learn about the VNPA’s work
to the Victorian National protecting nature, taking adventures,
Parks Association and our education programs.
community!
Meet Council Members, volunteers and staff,
This is a great boost to and enjoy a picnic dinner beside the Yarra River.
our membership cohort, Thursday, 7 March 2019
and we’d like to thank
from 6:00-8:00pm
these new Members
Yarra Bend Park, Loop Picnic area,
for joining us in
southern end of Yarra Bend Road.
standing up for
our natural RSVP is essential. Please RSVP to Amelia via
environment. amelia@vnpa.org.au or on 9341 6500.
The sun lights up
The Cathedral and The Hump,
from The Horn, Mount Buffalo.
Nature
IN THE
next term
VNPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MATT RUCHEL
REVIEWS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
IN THE STATE ELECTION.
Congratulations to the re-elected Coalition rejected creating the Great Over 80 per cent of people supported
Andrews Government, with their Forest National Park, and, according new marine national parks, yet
massively improved majority in the to The Age, made commitments Victoria hasn’t had a new marine park
lower house. While Labor made to wind back protection for the since 2002.
significant announcements on Leadbeater’s possum.
climate and renewable energy in the Over 45 per cent of Victorians agreed
lead up to the state election, nature There was a major effort by that they were more likely to vote
conservation commitments were few conservation groups, including VNPA, for a political party which has a
and narrowly focused. to highlight the impacts of native comprehensive nature conservation
forest logging with an intensive letter- and national park policy.
The Greens released the most boxing effort in sandbelt and key
well-rounded package of policies, inner-city marginal seats. At the time of writing, the upper
including on increasing parks funding; house results were still unclear, but
protecting nature; creating the Great Just days before voters headed to the there is unlikely to be a clear majority
Forest National Park; invasive species polls, an ABC investigation found that for Labor, with possibly only one
control; and river, marine and coastal thousands of hectares of state forest Greens MP, and a raft of micro parties
protection, including creating new appear to have been illegally logged holding sway.
marine national parks. or earmarked for logging – amounting
to what some say is the mass “theft” Andrews Government
Unfortunately, Labor chose to attack, by the state government-owned, commitments on nature
quite successfully, the Greens party for-profit logging company VicForests.
rather than competing on policy. There was no comprehensive nature
Latest statewide polling, policy released by Labor, though there
The Coalition released nothing commissioned by VNPA, shows that were some targeted announcements
resembling a comprehensive support for establishing new national on camping infrastructure and
environmental policy, even though parks is higher than ever. The majority regional metropolitan parks.
the opposition leader promised of Victorians support parks and
publicly to release a “comprehensive nature protection, with more than Many of the issues picked up in
environmental statement before the 70 per cent of people supporting both its 2014 policy – including riparian
election” (which would be the first the comprehensive parks network, programs, threatened species reform,
in over a decade). There were a few new national parks across the state, better biodiversity management –
small announcements, but nothing improved funding for parks, and were neglected this time around. The
major materialised. Instead the threatened species management. big issues of forest protection and the
6 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275
PHOTO: STEVE LACY, FLICKR CC
creation of the Great Forest National boost in investment to rebuild • $4.5 million will go towards
Park were also ignored. campgrounds in our parks system, expanding conservation and
funding for conservation volunteers, volunteering programs.
Perhaps a strengthened Labor a new coastal park, and reduction of
government will reverse the trend camping fees. • $10.5 million to improve 4x4
from its first term, improve its record drive tracks and rejuvenate
on parks creation, and fill some of Some of the key features of package Victoria’s seven iconic 4x4 drive
the gaps in the reserve system. include: adventures.
New parks in central west Victoria
would be a good place to start • Invest $105.6 million on While the investment package
(see pages 8-12). campgrounds (30 existing for facilities is welcome, still of
campgrounds will be upgraded concern is the lack of funding that
VNPA welcomed the Labor and 30 will be built from scratch) park managers desperately need
announcement to establish plus new walking tracks, canoeing for core frontline capacity to deal
6,500 hectares of new suburban facilities etc; with the many pressures placed
parks, including the proposed on parks, particularly pest plants
2,778-hectare park in the Upper Merri • Removing camping fees at 500
basic sites over 70 campgrounds in and animals.
Creek, near Craigieburn, and the
1,000-hectare Jackson Creek Park 19 parks across regional Victoria; There are still significant gaps in
near Sunbury, as well as additions • $4.3 million for building and our reserve system, and we need
to the urban park network along upgrading paths in parks across commitments for new parks to
Kororoit Creek and Werribee River. the state; protect our forests, woodlands,
While the announcement was light grasslands and marine areas in
on detail and specific locations, • Halving all remaining camping fees many parts of the state.
many of the areas have significant in state and national parks;
ecological features, including Alarmingly, both Labor and the
critically endangered grasslands • A new coastal park on the Bass Coalition supported the take-
and woodlands, which should, Coast, linking existing parks and over of parks along the Great
where feasible, be included in the reserves dotted along the popular Ocean Road by a new tourism-
parks network. 40 kilometres of coastline from focused body, which is in our
San Remo to Inverloch, including a view a significant and alarming
VNPA also welcomed Labor’s $10 million land purchase and $9.6 step backward. Read more on
commitment to a significant million to build new campgrounds; pages 14-15. • PW
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 7
Let’s protect
it forever
WE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO PROTECTING VICTORIA’S CENTRAL WESTERN FORESTS,
SAYS OUR NATURE CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNER SHANNON HURLEY.
VNPA has advocated for the 375 threatened species, such as However, as always when new parks are
protection of Victoria’s forests in the the powerful owl and the sugar proposed, there are those who voice their
central west of the state for almost glider, and eleven significant opposition. That’s why it is so critical we all voice
a decade, starting with the release headwaters of important rivers our support of parks to counter this together.
of our report Better Protection for including the Moorabool, Werribee,
Lerderderg and Maribyrnong. Countering misconceptions
Special Places in 2010.
Some people believe that parks are ‘locked up’
Now a critical moment for VNPA and local community
and the public is ‘locked out’, but in fact the
protection is right in front of us, groups believe that many of these
opposite is the case.
with the Victorian Environmental special places are worthy of better
Assessment Council (VEAC) protection under the National Parks To correct any misunderstanding, we have
recommending a series of new parks Act 1975. If implemented, VEAC’s created Exploring Victoria’s Parks, a guide
to protect these significant forests. draft recommendations would fill to what you can and can’t do in national
many significant gaps in Victoria’s parks: www.vnpa.org.au/wp-content/
These central west forests have conservation estate and help us uploads/2016/05/Exploring-Victorias-
incredible natural value. This includes meet global biodiversity targets. National-Parks.pdf
8 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275
and accommodate almost all Forestry on the other hand mostly
recreational uses – bushwalking, costs taxpayers. The Victorian
camping (including dispersed Government is actually paying for
camping), mountain biking, and 4x4 logging operations to continue
driving. The rules for 4x4 driving in the western forests through a
are exactly the same as in state grant of $678,000 per annum to
forests and any other public land its state funded logging agency
– licenced vehicles are allowed on VicForests.
declared roads.
Under the current lack of protection,
Some activities that are not industrial scale logging will return to
permitted in the national and state many of these central west forests.
parks can still be enjoyed in adjacent There are approximately 50 planned
regional parks, including domestic logging coupes in the Wombat
firewood collection, dog walking Forest alone. They are only on hold
and horse riding. Horse riding is due to the Andrews Government
allowed in some national parks, pausing them while the VEAC
determined after public input in to inquiry is being held.
the management planning process
which happens once the park has We need more parks
been established.
Victoria will need more parks
The case for protection now and into the future to meet
demand from our growing
Opposition to protecting Wombat population. Parks benefit people
Forest originated when the Bracks and nature by providing permanent
state government first committed protection for environments under
to a VEAC investigation into the threat from ever increasing urban
area in the late 1990s. VEAC’s expansion, and spaces for people
investigation, delayed until now, to enjoy the great outdoors.
suffered stiff opposition. For 20 years
there have been arguments that the This is our chance to push Victoria
forest should not be protected in a towards being a leader once again
national park, to allow for a forestry in nature protection and parks
IMAGE: SANDY SCHELTEMA
management technique called creation, not a laggard.
‘thinning’. Allegedly for ecological We must ensure the Victorian
restoration purposes, this often just Government implements VEAC’s
defaults back into logging operations. recommendations.
Twenty years later, no coherent
ecological restoration plan has been Thank you to our wonderful
initiated for Wombat Forest. supporters who put in
! Locality map submissions before the due date
Bendigo We all agree parks need good of 10 December. Your voice has
Wellsford management, and a dedicated been critical to protect these
Wombat- conservation agency needs funding
Macedon special forests.
for a proper scientifically-informed
!
management and restoration plan – We now await the final VEAC
Ballarat not more forestry. recommendations which will
Melbourne
Mount Cole-
! be presented to the Victorian
Pyrenees It’s important to point out that while Government in March 2019. If
Geelong
!
parks do need money to manage, the final recommendations are
they also generate many economic anything like those in the draft,
benefits. National park status can we hope the state government
bring immense benefits to the state accepts and implements these
economy, increasing local tourism new parks.
and jobs. According to the last
In most cases, national parks, Parks Victoria Annual Report, parks We will certainly be continuing to
state parks, regional parks, and contribute directly over $2 billion work, with your support, to ensure
conservation reserves are open 24/7, annually to the Victorian economy this happens, to give our central
every day of the year, to the public. through tourism alone and create western forests the protection
These types of protected areas allow 20,000 jobs, many in regional areas. they deserve.
Continued overleaf
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 9
Continued from previous page
Recap on proposed
protections area by area
Wellsford Forest Pyrenees
Where: Just 15 kilometres north-east of the historic goldfields town of Bendigo. Forest
VEAC draft recommendation: Wellsford Forest to include an addition of 3,950 Where: 180 kilometres from
hectares to the Bendigo Regional Parks, and the creation of a 3,160-hectare Melbourne and 70 kilometres
Wellsford Nature Reserve, covering almost half of the Wellsford Forest. north-west of Ballarat in the
Biggest threat: Logging operations, with seven areas scheduled (including popular wine region.
one with rare swift parrot records), and domestic firewood collection. VEAC draft recommendation:
Why protect the Wellsford Forest? Pyrenees Forest be upgraded to
a new Pyrenees National Park
yy The Wellsford Forest provides habitat for key threatened species including of 16,076 hectares, and a new
the brush-tailed phascogale, pink-tailed worm-lizard, lace monitor, Ausfeld’s regional park of 4,160 hectares.
and whirrakee wattles; and a range of woodland birds such as the swift parrot,
brown treecreeper, hooded robin, speckled warbler and crested bellbird; Biggest threat: Logging
operations, with 18 areas
yy Dominated by eucalypts, wattles and wildflowers, it is a place to explore and enjoy
scheduled (including one which
Victoria’s box-ironbark forests as they recover from a long history of logging;
includes powerful owl records).
yy The proposed nature reserve is important for protecting the last few
remaining large trees in this block. Why protect the
Pyrenees Forest?
yy The Pyrenees gum is only
known to be distributed
in the eastern side of the
Pyrenees Forest;
Wombat Forest yy Box-ironbark forest on the
Where: Located between Daylesford, Woodend and Ballan. northern side of the Pyrenees
Ranges provides habitat for
VEAC draft recommendation: Wombat Forest to have significant additions,
species in the threatened
with an increase in size of 28,692 hectares making a new Wombat-Lerderderg
Victorian temperate woodland
National Park. Also a new regional park located in two parts, totalling 9,149
hectares. There is also a new Cobaw Conservation Park (2,453 hectares); birds community – including
Hepburn Conservation Park (2,714 hectares), and Long Forest Nature Reserve. the painted honeyeater, black-
chinned honeyeater, diamond
Biggest threat: Logging operations, with 50 areas scheduled, which will go firetail and brown treecreeper;
ahead if not protected in a national park, and potential for commercial mining.
yy The endangered swift parrot
Why protect the Wombat Forest? relies heavily on flowering
yy The Wombat-Lerderderg National Park and new regional park if box-ironbark forests in
implemented would protect seven rivers – Loddon, Coliban and Campaspe, autumn and winter, and
Moorabool, Werribee, Lerderderg and Maribyrnong; has been recorded at the
Landsborough end of
yy Its forests provide habitat for a diversity of flora and fauna, with 99 rare or
the park.
threatened species recorded here, and a further eight species that form part
of the threatened woodland bird community;
yy There are many recent records of the threatened brush-tailed phascogale in
the heathy dry forest north-west of Daylesford;
yy There are good numbers of the greater glider recorded in the wetter forests
of the central Wombat Ranges – the only population of this threatened Mount Cole Forest
species west of the Hume Highway. This species requires very extensive (see next page)
areas of forest to provide an adequate food source.
10 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275VNPA field trip to visit
Mount Cole logging sites.
A ‘peak’
of interest
WINDING THROUGH
TEMPERATE FORESTED PEAKS
AND GULLIES IN VICTORIA’S
CENTRAL WEST IS ONE OF
PHOTO: VNPA
OUR STATE’S MOST-LOVED
AND ACCESSIBLE BUSHWALKS,
THE BEERIPMO WALK.
Walkers there enjoy sharing the trail with small and dispersed and would be proposed draft recommendations for
more than 130 species of birdlife and the difficult to capture in protected areas a small extension of national park and
possibility of spotting the Mount Cole without either adding the entire area new nature reserve. VNPA’s alternative
grevillea, which is only found in this area. to protected areas or establishing a reserve design would pick up an
network of smaller protected areas additional 4,182 hectares in national
What they do not expect to encounter is park and 561 hectares in regional
throughout the broader area.”
bare, recently logged forests. park, to reduce the Herb-rich Foothill
VNPA disagrees with the
Despite the public appreciation and its Forest shortfall by more than a third.
recommendation for Mount Cole to
high conservation values, Mount Cole remain in state forest, where 70 per cent • Headwaters of the Wimmera River –
Forest has 47 coupes scheduled for would remain open to intensive logging. Headwaters for rivers in other parts
intensive logging. Seventeen of these, of the investigation area, such as the
covering 330 hectares, are flagged as We believe there are additional
Moorabool and the Maribyrnong, have
‘even-aged management’ – in other significant natural values that
been recommended to gain protection
words, clearfell industrial logging. Some need to be considered in the VEAC
in new parks, yet sadly the Wimmera
have already fallen to this fate. investigation process. When looking
headwaters have missed out. There is
on a finer scale, we have found a
Mount Cole Forest may be relatively concern down river about the health of
picture emerges that warrants better
small in size (in total around 12,000 platypus populations, and protecting
protection in an expanded national and
hectares – currently 2,498 hectares in these significant headwaters could
regional park. VNPA has captured this
Mount Buangor State Park and 8,909 help improve stream conditions
in an ‘alternative reserve design’ using throughout the river. If not included in
hectares in Mount Cole State Forest) the following unique or important parks, the Wimmera and some of the
compared to those in the east. But Mount ecological features of Mount Cole other tributaries should be considered
Cole has significance of its own kind. as criteria: for listing under the Heritage Rivers
Identified as having high conservation • Montane Plateau vegetation Act 1992 (similarly to other areas
values under the VNPA’s Small Parks type – Isolated montane patches, farther downstream).
Project in 2010, Mount Cole has in its specifically snow gums on Mount • Recreational assets – Sections of
rich forests the most western extent Cole, are rare in the west of the state, the much-loved Beeripmo Walk and
of mountain brushtail possum, and and will be critical in acting as an camping areas are adjacent to logging
many threatened species, including the important climate change refuge sites. Protecting against logging will
nationally endangered regent honey- to the eastern for moving species. retain the future integrity of the walk’s
eater, the endangered growling grass They are a significant biogeographic high tourism value.
frog, and the aforementioned likely- connection to the eastern Alps,
endangered Mount Cole grevillea. • Special Protection Zones (SPZ) –
and one of the few suitable sites
The map overleaf shows a series of
VEAC’s investigation into the central for translocation of Ballantinia – a
SPZs throughout Mount Cole, which
west forests states: “Some areas that threatened plant species.
are excluded from logging activities
the analyses identified as high-ranking • Herb-rich Foothill Forest vegetation to protect significant powerful owl
areas of rare and threatened species type – VEAC has identified a habitat and scenic features. These
habitat are recommended to remain 12,021 hectare shortfall in formal areas, which cover a significant
state forest. These areas include parts protection for this forest type in the area of Mount Cole, would benefit
of the Mount Cole, Musical Gully- Central Victorian Uplands Bioregion. from inclusion into parks to protect
Camp Hill and Trawalla-Andrews state Yet there are large areas left the powerful owl, and for ease
forests. These areas are relatively unprotected. They sit outside of the of management.
Continued overleaf
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 11Map (far left):
VNPA’s alternative
reserve design
for part national,
part regional park
for Mount Cole
Forest.
Map (inset):
VEAC’s
recommendations
for Mount
Buangor State
Park to be
expanded into
a national park,
and a new
nature reserve.
Melbourne
198km
Continued from previous page
Also worth recognising are important VNPA’s alternative reserve design aims Looking ahead, better protection for
ecological communities and to protect these natural values in a Mount Cole becomes even more critical.
ecosystems that have been identified national park, whilst still allowing for It has among the highest condition
in the area, including: recreational uses in an adjacent regional native vegetation in the area and rises
park. In our draft design, one single almost 1,000 meters from a relatively
• Small areas of grassy woodland
connected protected area would allow flat plain. This will make it an important
dominated by yellow box, including
for much simpler management. While climate change refuge for species
the critically endangered ‘White Box
our preference is for the entirety of movement and survival.
- Yellow Box - Blakely’s Red Gum
Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Mount Cole to be protected in a national Now, with the public submission
Grassland’ community listed under park under the National Parks Act 1975, period closed, we await to see the
the Environment Protection and this revised reserve design is the next final recommendations for Mount
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; best option to accommodate broader Cole. We hope better protection for
recreational uses. this special forest is considered in
• ‘Groundwater Dependent’ or
Not only will this alternative reserve VEAC’s final recommendations to the
‘Spring Soak Wetland/Woodland’
Victorian Government.
ecosystems very closely aligned to design protect Mount Cole’s significant
communities recently recognised natural values from the threats it More information on Mount Cole here:
under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee faces, it would push Victoria closer www.vnpa.org.au/logging-to-impact-
Act 1988. A detailed survey should to achieving international biodiversity one-of-victorias-most-popular-bush-
be undertaken. benchmarks across the state. walks-at-mount-cole • PW
12 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275Riverside Rescue
PHOTO: JOHN PEARSON
RIPARIAN ACTION PROGRESS
NEEDS TO CONTINUE ACCORDING
TO MATT RUCHEL.
Riparian land – land which runs is for on-ground riparian works such • total native vegetation cover
along river, creek, wetlands and as stock management fencing, increased ~2-fold;
estuaries – is critical for healthy revegetation, weed management and • native species richness increased
waterways. Healthy riparian land provision of infrastructure to support ~1.5-fold;
is important for habitat for native off-stream stock watering. See:
• planted and natural woody recruits
animals, providing a connection www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways-
increased ~9-fold;
between areas of remnant vegetation, and-catchments/regional-riparian-
and as a filter for nutrients and action-plan • woody weed abundance decreased
sediments from catchment run-off. to almost zero at most sites;
Nine regional Victorian Catchment • bare ground cover did not increase
Of the estimated 170,000 kilometres Management Authorities (CMAs) as found in unmanaged sites.
of river frontage in Victoria, about worked with just over 1,000
30,000 kilometres are Crown land landholders and farmers and See: www.ari.vic.gov.au/research/
(about 100,000 hectares). The about 200 Traditional Owners, rivers-and-estuaries/riparian-
remaining riparian land is a mix of Landcare, angling, school and other intervention-monitoring-program
privately owned and other types of community groups.
public land (e.g. in national parks). Some important progress has been
At present, about 17,000 kilometres After the first three years of the action made in the last three years, with
are managed by the adjacent plan’s implementation – 2015 to 2018 around 15 per cent leased Crown
landholders, under about 10,000 – the key outcomes achieved include land frontages being targeted for
agricultural licences. the protection and improvement of: works. But there is still more work
to be done. At the current rate of
• nearly 2,300 kilometres of riparian
A key state government program implementation and funding it will still
land (92 per cent of the five-year
over the last four years has been the take a further 20 years to complete
action plan target) – that’s almost
the Regional Riparian Action Plan. It works for eligible land. But these
the distance from Melbourne to
has been successful in working with type of programs require steady
Cairns, and;
landholders to manage these areas implementation. We have suggested
and has been delivering tangible • 33,000 hectares of riparian land ongoing funding of at least $15 million
improvement to public and privately- (117 per cent of the five-year target) per year for the next four years, plus
owned riversides. – that’s more than three times the new work looking at systematically
size of Phillip Island. reviewing and identifying freshwater
One of our calls on all political parties areas (refugia) likely to facilitate
in the lead up to the state election was The state government’s main
survival of organisms under threat
to continue to fund and implement the environmental research agency Arthur
from climate change.
plan. A program that is good for both Rylah Institute for Environmental
the environment and good for regional Research has started a long term While no election commitment was
jobs needs to continue into the next Riparian Intervention Monitoring forthcoming, let’s hope the success of
term of government. Program (RIMP). The initial results the program gets the support it needs
from a fairly small number of sites in the next state budget.
The Andrews Government allocated are promising. They show that where
$10 million in 2015/16 and a further works were undertaken the following More information on riparian land
$30 million from 2016/17 to 2019/20 significant changes in vegetation www.vnpa.org.au/riverside-riparian-
to implement the plan. This funding condition attributes were found: land • PW
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 13Great Ocean Road
national parks land grab
A RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PROPOSAL FOR
A NEW GREAT OCEAN ROAD AUTHORITY WILL
WEAKEN NATIONAL PARK PROTECTION SAYS
MATT RUCHEL AND PARK PROTECTION
CAMPAIGNER PHIL INGAMELLS.
As first raised in our September 2018 Government, the intention is to create: for broad-acre parks management –
Park Watch article ‘Great Ocean Road “A new, dedicated, marine and coastal including for most of the Great Otway
threatened?’, VNPA continues to be parks authority with the primary National Park – and who will provide
alarmed at proposals to change the purpose of managing and protecting parks management services to the
purpose of national parks along the the land and seascapes of the Great new authority for its field operations
Great Ocean Road. Ocean Road, to manage visitation and to ensure environmental conservation
to coordinate delivery of associated objectives are met”.
Recent announcements of plans to government investment projects.”
hand over some of our most iconic This plan proposes to change the
national parks to a new tourism- The plan states that: “This will not management prescriptions for Parks
focused management authority alter the underlying management Victoria’s parks, then sub-contract
is an alarming backwards step in tenure and conservation objectives Parks Victoria back to manage them.
nature conservation. of any national parks areas for It’s a bit like selling your home from
which the new authority assumes under you, then leasing it back to you
The proposal could see significant responsibility”. to make a set of renovations.
changes in the management of
national parks such as Port Campbell This might seem innocuous, but it This is a national parks land grab. It seeks
National Park and Twelve Apostles doesn’t make much sense – it is to fundamentally change time-honoured
Marine National Park. Under new either a completely unnecessary protections under the National Parks
legislation, planning and decision- duplication of responsibility, or the Act 1975, and effectively fragments
making responsibility in the parks intention is to manage the areas Victoria’s national park estate.
would be given to a new ‘Great Ocean under revised objectives, such as to
Road Coast and Parks Authority.’ facilitate tourist infrastructure. Parks and reserves likely to be impacted
include at least 15,000 hectares of
According to the Great Ocean Road The plan also states: “The new national parks, coastal parks, marine
Action Plan, released on 12 October authority will work closely with Parks national parks and sanctuaries along
and adopted by the Andrews Victoria who retain responsibility the Great Ocean Road, including:
14 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275improve land use planning. But if there is
no intention to change the high level of
protection offered to national parks, then
there is no need to transfer management
control of parks to a new Act.
Of the almost $1 billion in economic
benefit already generated in the region,
much can be attributed to the natural
beauty and integrity of the landscape and
the ecology of the region, of which the vast
majority is managed by Parks Victoria.
It currently receives only basic funding
from the state to maintain, manage
and enhance these natural drawcards.
That should change, but creating a new
and unnecessary layer of management
control is not the answer, particularly not
one with competing objectives.
The National Parks Act has served
us well for generations and protected
tourism icons such as the Twelve
Apostles and Great Otway National Park.
Introducing new overriding legislation
PHOTO: CLAUDIO ACCHERI, FLICKR CC
will inevitably strip protections and
weaken the integrity of our parks estate.
It’s a window-dressed land grab
by tourism bodies, and it sets a
terrible precedent for environmental
management across the state.
VNPA is also deeply disturbed by the
community consultation carried out by
the Victorian Government’s Great Ocean
Road Taskforce. A key document titled
• Port Campbell National Park 12,000 hectares of marine national the ‘Governance of the Great Ocean Road
(1,830 hectares) parks and sanctuaries. The rest consists Region Issues Paper’, which discussed
of range of smaller coastal reserves, the proposed governance arrangements,
• Point Addis Marine National Park
bushland and nature conservation reports to have consulted with VNPA
(4,600 hectares)
reserves protected under the Crown and other community and conservation
• Twelve Apostles Marine Land (Conservation) Act 1978. groups. On closer investigation, we were
National Park (7,500 hectares) not consulted on these substantive
The other public land managers include
• Arches Marine Sanctuary issues – rather a brief conversation was
the Department of Environment, Land,
(45 hectares) held with a state government consultant
Water and Planning (DELWP), who
about a single visitor centre. We have
• Bay of Islands Coastal Park control 9,771 hectares, much of it Otway
since requested that VNPA’s name be
(950 hectares) Forest Park, but also a range of coastal
removed from the document, which the
reserves such as Bells Beach Coastal
• Unspecified parts of Great Otway environment department has agreed too.
Reserve and various river frontages.
National Park, but including We are calling on the state government
the Otway Lighthouse and A large number of smaller areas (over to rule out any changes to the core
camping areas. 70) ranging from coastal reserves purpose of national parks, including any
to tennis clubs are managed by changes to the control, legislation, tenure
In all, there is around 110,000 Committees of Management, either and/or management of national parks
hectares of public land within five community-based, local council or other conservation reserves along
kilometres of the coast (land and sea) or sometimes other government the Great Ocean Road, or anywhere else
between Geelong and Warrnambool. departments, covering about 4,000 in the state. Any proposed aims can be
The bulk of this, about 87 per cent, is hectares widely dispersed over the area. achieved without these changes.
managed by Parks Victoria, of which
just under 80 per cent is protected The plan purports to aim to improve We must protect our irreplaceable
under the National Parks Act (75,000 coordination for the great range of natural heritage for generations
hectares of terrestrial parks and crown land managers in the region and to come. • PW
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 15PHOTO: ROB BLAKERS
Silver snow daisies 40 years after cattle were
removed from Kosciuszko National Park, and
Evidence should rule shortly before feral horses took over.
THE NSW NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BANNED ITS ECOLOGISTS FROM
ATTENDING A NOVEMBER CONFERENCE ON THE IMPACTS OF KOSCIUSZKO’S FERAL HORSES.
THAT DIDN’T COMPROMISE THE GROUNDBREAKING EVENT, REPORTS PHIL INGAMELLS.
Pity the frail hatchlings of the stocky fine gravels and silt have filled the The ten-hour event showcased the
galaxias. The last refuge on earth gaps in the cobbles and boulders remarkable assemblage of evidence
for this critically endangered native of the stream substrate, especially pointing to the damage inflicted
fish is just three kilometres of a downstream of each crossing. by horses in the Australian Alps
small mountain stream, above a National Parks – a grouping of all
trickling waterfall in the headwaters It’s not just the eggs that suffer, as the mainland Australia’s alpine parks,
of Tantangara Creek in Kosciuszko adult fish also shelter in gaps between including Kosciuszko and our Alpine
National Park. the rocks. Their habitat is now National Park.
seriously degraded by horses.
Many native fish lay their eggs in While much of the research was done
clear spaces between the stones This tale of the stocky galaxias and dusted decades ago, and it has
in a healthy creek’s rocky bottom, emerged from work by a University of long been established that all hard-
sometimes fanning the eggs to Canberra team. It featured in one of 20 hooved invaders – deer, goats, pigs,
remove any silt and increase available remarkable presentations at a recent cattle and horses – have damaged
oxygen. But galaxias species are gathering of alpine scientists brought the high country, many presentations
inattentive parents, and a long together by the Australian Academy of opened new insights.
incubation period leaves the eggs Science with Deakin University and the
particularly vulnerable. Australian National University (ANU). Drones are now employed by the
University of NSW to produce high
Feral horses are now abundant in The conference was triggered by the resolution 3D digital models to
the Tantangara Creek catchment, NSW government’s extraordinary accurately monitor streambank
with many well-entrenched horse decision to give Kosciuszko’s feral erosion by horses along the
crossings in the critical three- horse population heritage protection Ingeegoodbee River in the Pilot
kilometre stretch of this stream. under state legislation, ignoring Wilderness area of Kosciuszko. So
The bank structure is damaged, and decades of scientific evidence. far this research has shown that
16 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275PHOTO: HUGH ALLAN
Above: Critically
endangered stocky
galaxias.
Left: Tantangara Creek,
siltation downstream of
horse crossing
PHOTO: MARK LINTERMANS
streambank erosion by horses can Two presentations on the spectacular, the Snowy River around the border
release as much as 3.5 tonnes of and also critically endangered, between NSW and Victoria. They
sediment annually from just a 50 northern corroboree frog drew a clear demonstrated rapidly growing damage
metre stretch of that river. line between hope and despair. from horses and deer – but mainly, so
far, from horses.
This gave added credence to This remarkable animal has been
a presentation from both ANU seriously affected by that curse of Other research pointed out that similar
and Charles Sturt University. The many frogs – chytrid fungus – but a horse impacts were recognised
Australian Alps produce about 29 couple of highly successful off-site globally. Many other papers were
per cent of the total water yield of the breeding programs are now working also presented, but two came from
Murray-Darling Basin’s one million well. And a long-standing feral horse interesting social perspectives.
square kilometres, even though the culling program in the ACT’s Namadgi
alpine region occupies just 1 per National park has allowed the Alpine geographer Deidre Slattery
cent of the basin area. Feral horse regeneration of mossbeds and their pointed out that it’s only in recent
trampling and selective grazing elevated pools, the essential habitat years that any sizeable support for the
exposes alpine soils to frost heave for the frog and an ideal place for their ‘brumby heritage’ idea has surfaced.
and erosion, and opens channels re-introduction. Indeed throughout the 19th century,
through moss beds and peat bogs, high country horses were a pest to be
drying them and leaving them Over the border in NSW, however, eliminated, largely because they were
vulnerable to fire and further erosion. horses have significantly trashed the a threat to cattle and sheep grazing.
adjacent peat beds, compromising
This in turn reduces the water- the re-establishment of frog And well-seasoned alpine ecologist
holding capacity of the high plains, populations there. Frustratingly, the Dick Williams said that in the tradition
producing heavier, pulsed run-offs. horse protection regime in NSW is of Alec Costin, pretty much the
causing headaches for the ACT park undisputed father of alpine ecology,
In the 1960s cattle were removed agency, as they allocate more and scientists should hold governments
from Kosciuszko so the Snowy more resources to control cross- and agencies to account when they
Hydro Scheme’s infrastructure border invaders. act contrary to clear evidence. Science
would not face siltation problems. “can, and should, be activist”.
The rapidly growing horse Importantly, not all horse impacts
population is now a re-introduced were logged in the high elevation This event held to that great tradition.
threat to that original infrastructure areas. A group of ANU researchers The Kosciuszko Science Accord was
and, of course, to the planned looked at impacts in the white cypress enthusiastically endorsed by the
Snowy Hydro 2 development. pine/white box dry woodlands along conference. Google it. • PW
PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275 17A change of course
MATT RUCHEL AND SHANNON HURLEY TRACK THE TWISTS AND TURNS
IN THE BATTLE FOR BELFAST COASTAL RESERVE.
Commercial racehorse training VNPA has long argued that this was community groups are up against a
has been found illegal under the inconsistent with the purpose of state government and a powerful private
Warrnambool planning scheme – the reserve to protect the natural, interest, in this case the horseracing
and therefore on Levys Beach, one cultural and recreational values industry. Elitism and profit was
of the horse racing industry’s main of this significant coastal area. It prioritised over the right of Victorians to
training locations in the Belfast also threatens fragile vegetation safely enjoy our public beaches.
Coastal Reserve. and vulnerable wildlife such as the
nationally threatened hooded plover, Levys Beach is one of the four sites
But it is no straight forward matter. a tiny shorebird known fondly as where commercial racehorse training
‘hoodies’ that breed and nest on could take place within the Belfast
A brief recap these beaches, and are no match for Coastal Reserve. Levys and Hoon
thoroughbred hooves. Hill beaches are the two commercial
VNPA, along with local groups, have sites, and Killarneys and Rutledges
been fighting commercial racehorse The state government seemed to go Cutting beaches are the two historical
training at the Belfast Coastal Reserve out of its way to accommodate the racehorse training sites. The sites differ
between Warrnambool and Port Fairy horse racing industry. The release in who manages them, ranging from
since 2015. of the final Belfast Coastal Reserve state government to local council.
Management Plan in July 2018 Levys Beach is managed primarily by
Commercial racehorse trainers reduced racehorses permitted to train the Warrnambool City Council.
essentially invaded the reserve after on the beach to 175 horses or more –
the successful 2015 Melbourne Cup still far too many thundering along the Our legal advice
winner credited training racehorses on sand every day.
these beaches as being part of that With advice from our legal partners
success. Up to 260 racehorses per Often campaigns like this one seem Environmental Justice Australia, VNPA
day were training in the reserve. like a David and Goliath battle – where had a review of Warrnambool’s planning
Belfast Coastal
Reserve
18 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275scheme undertaken. This legal advice been considered. Shortly after, the For commercial racehorse training
found commercial racehorse training story broke in the local media and to occur at Levys beach, the Council
to be illegal at Levys Beach. the Council’s planning department would have to change the planning
confirmed that, as per VNPA’s legal scheme. This can be done via normal
In mid-September, VNPA wrote to the advice, commercial racehorse training consultation process, undertaken by
CEO of Warrnambool City Council at Levys Beach is a prohibited use. the Council, which can take months if
highlighting the clear inconsistency not a year.
with allowing commercial racehorse Uproar ensues
training on its beaches. After we Or alternatively it can be ‘called in’
sought a meeting to discuss this It became a high-profile local story and fast tracked by the state planning
further, the matter was referred to the with almost hourly updates in the minister. VNPA and others moved
Council’s planning department. local The Standard news outlet. A quickly to call on the Victorian Planning
number of Councillors asked why Minister Richard Wynne to refrain from
In the meantime, the Warrnambool they hadn’t been properly informed, intervening. Just prior to the caretaker
Racing Club was required, under the and argued for a second special period, the matter was referred back to
Belfast Coastal Management Plan, council meeting on the Friday night Council to make planning changes.
to issue and manage licences to of 26 October. In an unprecedented
individual horse trainers. As part of move, the Council voted unanimously This could potentially all shift again
the deal, Warrnambool Racing Club to rescind their earlier motion – once the dust has settled now the state
was to give Warrnambool City Council resulting in a Council decision for no election has passed, and depending
$400,000 to build a car park at Lady commercial racehorse training to on how desperate the Victorian
Bay. A special meeting of the Council occur at Levys Beach indefinitely. Government is to back the horse
was called in early October to authorise racing industry.
the grant from the racing club and Although there are still the three other
approve commercial racehorse training sites open to commercial racehorse VNPA’s campaign to protect other
back onto Levys Beach. The Council training, Levys Beach by far had the beaches in the Belfast Coastal Reserve
approved both of these items. largest number of horses. from commercial racehorse training
continues. But this latest development is
But it became apparent due to No commercial racehorses ploughing a fantastic result and testament to our
questions by at least one of the up and down this beach is good news wonderful supporters who have taken
Councillors that the fact that all this for our hoodies and other shorebirds, action, and to the Belfast Coastal Action
was inconsistent with the Council’s and the safety of beachgoers and the Group (BCRAG) for their tireless efforts
own planning scheme had not local community. to protect their local beaches. • PW
MAP: ORIGINAL SOURCE – PARKS VICTORIA, BELFAST COASTAL RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN JULY 2018. EDITED BY VNPA.
PA R PA
K WR AT
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EEMCBEEM
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19 19Respect, protect and reconnect
Melbourne’s grasslands
BEN COURTICE REPORTS BACK ON A CONFERENCE ABOUT
ONE OF VICTORIA’S MOST THREATENED NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS.
Werribee lies in the heart of Melbourne’s western Grasslands, or flowerlands?
grassy plains, a region that is home to critically
endangered native grasslands, yet also amid one The backdrop to the conference was the iconic Volcano Dreaming
of Melbourne’s fastest growing suburbs. exhibition, a 12-panel photo-collage depicting the beauty, detail
and stories of the whole Victorian volcanic plain. Creators Peter
This was the setting for the inaugural conference Haffenden and Kerrie Poliness told the story of their journey of
of the new Grassy Plains Network exploring the learning about the volcanic plain in order to create this endearing
theme Respect, Protect, Reconnect Melbourne’s and enduring piece of work.
Grassy Plains. Hundreds of participants crowded
"We had a museum background and initially couldn’t see the
the Wyndham Council offices in Werribee for
natural beauty that the experts talked about. It seemed to live in their
the Grassy Plains Conference on 12-13 October.
minds," said Peter Haffenden. "Eventually we visited hundreds of
The enthusiasm for the environments of the
sites, and had our own eureka moments. Really, these grasslands
grassy plains, and the desire to better understand
should be called ‘flowerlands’ to grab people’s attention."
and protect them, was undeniable among
conference participants. Overdevelopment still a threat
VNPA sponsored the conference, and Immediate concerns for conservation raised at the conference
Executive Director Matt Ruchel presented on this were that many remnant grasslands are still being lost slowly
important issue of nature conservation in Victoria. to weed invasion, overgrazing, and other poor management
practices. At the same time, a few remaining high-quality
Native grasslands, dazzling in their diversity of grassland patches within existing development areas are at risk
wildflower species, are found on the volcanic of being lost in a few scrapes of an excavator.
plains that stretch from Melbourne right
across the west of the state. Since European The conference heard that a private developer has applied to the
settlement this fertile land has a long history of federal government to destroy part of a grassland reserve originally
being used for agriculture and, more recently, set aside to compensate for development impacts within the
urban expansion. The grasslands have now Williams Landing development in Wyndham City. This would put
been reduced to less than 1 per cent of their hundreds of endangered plants, including the endangered spiny rice
original extent. flower, and also possibly endangered striped legless lizards, at risk.
20 PA R K W AT C H • D E C E M B E R 2018 N O 275You can also read
