Board of Management Update

By Phillip Island Nature Parks

The Phillip Island Nature Parks Board met on October 22 on Phillip Island.
The Board welcomed its interim Chair, Michaela Salvato. Michaela, a local Bass Coast Shire resident is a long-standing board member, having served on the board since 2015.

Visitation
Visitor numbers have been consistently higher than last year across the first quarter of the financial year, with particularly strong visitation to Churchill Island and the Koala Conservation Reserve. The Board was pleased to see this trend continue and the outlook for the summer period was positive.

Governance and Risk Management
Each meeting the Board reviews in detail organisational risks and this meeting focused on Climate Change and Wildfire as we lead into the warmer months.

The Board heard the fire preparedness activities planned and undertaken in preparation for the fire season, as well as the trial of different fire suppression options for the Summerland Peninsula.

The Acting General Manager - Conservation updated the Board on climate related risks across the island, with a key focus on erosion and the management of freshwater bodies.

Penguin Parade boardwalks and viewing stands
The Board considered the approach to construct stage three of the Penguin Parade Boardwalks, which includes the redevelopment of the outdoor amenities and the boardwalk from the amenities back to the visitor centre.

This stage of the project is expected to be constructed from early 2026 to mid-2027 to avoid disrupting the penguin breeding season and the contractor appointment is expected to be announced in late November.

The fourth and final stage of the project is the redevelopment of the concrete viewing stands on the beach, which are being impacted by erosion and deterioration. The Board received an update on the concept design for this element of the project and expect that final designs will be completed in the new year.

Summerland Peninsula Master Plan
The Board heard the feedback from the engagement process, which was undertaken in September. Pleasingly there was strong community alignment on the protection of the conservation values of the area, shared interest in improved storytelling, appreciation of the raw beauty of the vistas and recognition of the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre as a central hub for the peninsula.

Areas where there were more divergent views on the plan included modes of transportation around the peninsula, the scale of services available at the Nobbies Centre and the desired uses of the public farmland abutting Swan Lake.

The next steps in the Master Plan development includes testing various options for the peninsula's future with the community reference group that was established to support the plan. Further engagement with the broader community is planned throughout the design process.

St Kilda Penguins
The Nature Parks was formally appointed to deliver the St Kilda Penguins viewing experience, which was announced by the Minister for Environment on October 24 and opened to the public on October 29.

The Board is pleased to be working in partnership with Parks Victoria and Earthcare St Kilda in the delivery of this free experience. Since opening, the experience has been extremely popular with all tickets available to March 2026 booking out within days.