Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

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SUPPORTING HEALTHY PARKS HEALTHY PEOPLEStaff Health and WellbeingParks Victoria undertakes a health and wellbeingprogram to:❚ Provide staff, and in some cases immediate familymembers, with access to health and wellbeinginformation and a range of support programs in theshort, medium and long term❚ Monitor staff health and wellbeing❚ Support staff during and following critical incidents❚ Enable the healthy recovery of staff.Support has continued for staff and immediatefamily members after the February 2009 fires, withthe voluntary use of external critical incident stressmanagementcounsellors, the Parks Victoria EmployeeAssistance Program and 31 internal trained peersupporters. Support has also continued for staffinvolved in giving evidence or preparing to giveevidence in the Royal Commission hearings. ParksVictoria continued to participate in the NetworkedEmergency Organisation Health and Fire andEmergency – Health & Wellbeing Committee. ParksVictoria is working with beyondblue to deliver tailoredprograms to staff and their families in fire-affectedareas with the aim to increase awareness of healthissues after traumatic events.GOVERNANCE AND COMPLIANCELegislative frameworkUnder the Parks Victoria Act 1998, Parks Victoria’sresponsibilities are to provide services to the State andits agencies for the management of parks, reservesand other land under the control of the State togetherwith waterways land (within the meaning of the WaterIndustry Act 1994) for the purposes of conservation,recreation, leisure, tourism or water transport. ParksVictoria’s responsibilities also extend to piers and jettiesand recreational boating in Port Phillip and WesternPort as a port manager under the Port Services Act 1995and as waterways manager under the Marine Act 1988.With the approval of the Minister, it may also provideservices to the owner of any other land used for publicpurposes for the management of that land. The Actrequires that Parks Victoria must not act in a way that isnot environmentally sound in carrying out its functions.Parks Victoria is appointed as a committee ofmanagement of various reserves pursuant to the CrownLand (Reserves) Act 1978. Currently, Parks Victoria isthe committee of management for a range of reservesincluding Albert Park, Werribee Park, Yarra Bend,several gardens in the Dandenong Ranges and piersand jetties in Port Phillip and Western Port.Learning and developmentRangers and field staff are trained in a wide varietyof skills including operating four-wheel-drive vehicles,plant and equipment through to the enforcement oflegislation. Health and safety training continues tobe at the forefront of the training program as doesfire training.This year, Parks Victoria introduced e-learning throughthe new Finance and People System to provide a widerrange of training to all staff.Leadership development remains a priority for ParksVictoria. This year, leadership training was provided tothe senior executives as well as to emerging leaders,and newly appointed supervisors. A Senior Women’sForum supported women in leadership roles. Theforum is designed to provide support, mentoring andleadership opportunities to women in the organisation.Parks Victoria is responsible for managing:❚ All areas under the National Parks Act 1975 –approximately 3.3 million hectares❚ Reserved and unreserved Crown land includingconservation and other reserves, metropolitan parks,regional parks and historic areas❚ Recreational and other activities on waterways landin the metropolitan area as defined in the WaterIndustry Act 1994❚ Piers and jetties in Port Phillip and Western Portand recreational boating on these bays pursuant topowers conferred on it as a port manager under thePort Services Act 1995 and Marine Act 1988❚ A number of other areas under leases or otherarrangements (including reservoir parks).Parks Victoria’s relationships and responsibilities forthe provision of services to the state are set out in aManagement Services Agreement (MSA) betweenParks Victoria, the Secretary to DSE and the Minister forEnvironment and Climate Change.44 Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10
Parks Victoria’s services are delivered within Statepolicy and contractual agreements, and in accordancewith statutory responsibilities. The MSA sets outthe principles for the delivery of park managementservices, lists the land to be managed and sets out thekey functions of Parks Victoria and DSE.The current MSA includes a commitment to engagestrategically and work in partnership. DSE is thedesignated lead for fire and road issues and ParksVictoria for tourism and recreation issues across tenure.Parks Victoria participated in a number of regulationand amendment projects that were completed orprogressed within the financial year including:❚ The proposed Crown Land (Reserves) (Regional Park)Regulations❚ The proposed remaking of the Conservation, Forestsand Lands (Anglesea Heath) Regulations❚ Amendment to provide for free entry to nationalparks in the National Parks (Fees and Charges)Regulations❚ The making of the Forests (Recreation) Regulationsand the Crown Land (Reserves) (Ex-HMAS CanberraDive Site) Regulations.Changes to areas managedUnder the Management Services Agreement, theMinister advises Parks Victoria of any changes to theland managed by Parks Victoria. In January 2010, ParksVictoria was advised of a net addition of 3,801 hectaresto the area managed, including the new 38 hectareMullum Mullum Park and the 90.5 hectare FrankstonNatural Features Reserve. Parks Victoria was alsonotified during the year of the transfer of managementresponsibilities from DSE for the land not alreadymanaged by Parks Victoria that was to form part of thenew River Red Gum park areas created on 29 June 2010.These changes bring the total area of land managed byParks Victoria to more than 4.04 million hectares.Freedom of InformationThe Freedom of Information Act 1982 allows thepublic the right of access to information containedin documents held by Parks Victoria. In the reportingperiod, Parks Victoria received 40 requests fordocuments and information under the Act.Of the 40 requests:❚ 0 were transferred to other agencies for processing❚ 32 were decided by Parks Victoria❚ 1 did not meet the requirement under the Act andwas refused❚ 6 are yet to be finalised❚ 1 was withdrawn or lapsed.Freedom of Information requests are made in writingdescribing the documents requested and including thepayment of the $23.40 application fee. Applicationforms and information about how to make arequest can be found on Parks Victoria’s website –www.parkweb.vic.gov.au Requests should be sent tothe Freedom of Information Officer, Parks Victoria,Level 10, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000.Whistleblowers protectionThe Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 came into effecton 1 January 2002. It is designed to protect people whodisclose information about serious wrongdoing withinthe Victorian Public Sector and to provide a frameworkfor the investigation of these matters.Parks Victoria does not tolerate improper conduct byemployees, or the taking of reprisals against those whocome forward to disclose such conduct. Parks Victoriahas established a Whistleblowers Protection procedureto manage disclosures. Disclosures may also be madedirectly to the Ombudsman. Since the commencementof the Act in January 2002, two disclosures have beenreceived by Parks Victoria.Disclosures for the period of 1 July 2009to 30 June 2010❚ Number and type of disclosures made to ParksVictoria – one public interest disclosure❚ Number and type of disclosures referred to theOmbudsman for public interest determination –one public interest disclosure❚ Number and type of disclosed matters referred toParks Victoria from the Ombudsman – one publicinterest disclosure to be investigated❚ Number and type of disclosed matters referred to theOmbudsman for investigation – none❚ Number and type of investigations of disclosedmatters taken over by the Ombudsman – noneParks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10 45
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTSREPORT OF OPERATIONSChairma
Page 5: CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGEParks Vi
Page 8 and 9: ABOUT PARKS VICTORIAParks Victoria
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Page 12 and 13: ABOUT PARKS VICTORIAThe Year in Rev
Page 14 and 15: HEALTHY PARKSNew River Red Gum park
Page 17 and 18: ❚ Treating more than 6,000 hectar
Page 19: For the first time, Parks Victoria
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Page 24 and 25: HEALTHY PEOPLEParklands to EastLink
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Page 30 and 31: HEALTHY PEOPLECULTURAL HERITAGEFor
Page 32 and 33: HEALTHY PEOPLEPROM’S RICH HISTORY
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Page 37 and 38: SIGNS OF RECOVERY AT KINGLAKE NATIO
Page 39 and 40: COMMERCIAL OPERATIONSParks Victoria
Page 41 and 42: RESPONSIBLY MANAGING OUR RESOURCESP
Page 43: Workforce dataEmployee(Headcount)On
Page 47 and 48: CORPORATE PERFORMANCEIndicator2005-
Page 49 and 50: FINANCIAL PERFORMANCEFive year fina
Page 51 and 52: FINANCIAL REPORTCOMPREHENSIVE OPERA
Page 53 and 54: BALANCE SHEETAs at 30 June 2010Note
Page 55 and 56: CASH FLOW STATEMENTFor The Financia
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Page 59 and 60: NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFo
Page 79 and 80: Piers, Jetties andRiver Improvement
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFo
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RISK MANAGEMENT ATTESTATIONRISK MAN
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AUDITOR’S REPORTParks Victoria -
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NOTESParks Victoria - Annual Report
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SIGNS OF RECOVERY - KINGLAKE NATION
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Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

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