Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGEParks Victoria has been developing and promotingthe Healthy Parks Healthy People approach for nearlya decade. This year we significantly broadened thatdiscussion through our inaugural International HealthyParks Healthy People Congress.I am proud of our organisation’s effort in initiating,planning and holding this important event. Expertsfrom around the world gathered and presented newresearch and ideas about the connection betweenhealth and nature. It is the first time such a congresshas been held for a diverse range of disciplines – fromthe health industry to park and recreation agencies tourban planners.At the opening of the Congress, the Premier announcedpark entry fees were to be removed from 1 July. Thiswas a great outcome for Parks Victoria. In Victoria thereare families and pensioners for whom entry fees were abarrier to regular use of some our parks. In keeping withour Healthy Parks Healthy People message, removal offees will allow more people to get out and enjoy parks.We also established new parks this year. There has beensignificant investigation and planning for new RiverRed Gum parks in northern Victoria over a number ofyears. This culminated in four new national parks beingproclaimed: Barmah, Gunbower, Lower Goulburn andWarby-Ovens national parks. The existing Murray-Sunset, Hattah-Kulkyne and Terrick Terrick nationalparks were expanded and other new parks established.All up, more than 100,000 hectares have been added tothe parks estate to protect this iconic landscape.To manage these new parks, we are working closelywith Traditional Owners. As an important first step,Traditional Owner Land Management Boards will beestablished for Barmah National Park with the YortaYorta People and for Nyah-Vinifera Park with theWadi Wadi People. As a practical expression of thispartnership we welcomed five new Yorta Yorta rangersto our organisation during the year. They appear on thecover of this report.This report covers a wide range of issues andachievements. I will highlight two more. For a numberof years, Parks Victoria has worked with otherdepartments and agencies to promote Victoria’sbays and maritime areas. A significant milestone wasreached this year with the completion and opening ofthe Queenscliff Harbour in March after a $38 millionredevelopment. The harbour is now a major touristdestination.Across the state we were fortunate to have a fairly mildbushfire season this year. This assisted us in stepping upour bushfire preparation and planning. Parks Victorialed the Melbourne Bushfire Protection Program. Theprogram delivered new staff, new equipment andincreased protection works around Melbourne. Inaddition, we delivered an extensive planned burnprogram with the Department of Sustainability andEnvironment and continued to implement a major firerecovery program.Mark StoneChief ExecutiveJuly 2010Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10 5