Board of Management Update - May 2024

By Chair, Kevin Love

The Phillip Island Nature Parks Board met on the 30 May for its regular board meeting. The meeting was held virtually and below are the highlights of the meeting.

Reconciliation Week

The Chair acknowledged the Board convened during National Reconciliation Week and shared the sobering experience of the community gathering to stand with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community on Sorry Day - a day that remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, forcibly removed from their families and communities.

The Board and organisation were well represented at the Sorry Day event, which was organized by the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network and local Bass Coast community. The Nature Parks is proud to support Reconciliation Week and looks forward to participating in further scheduled activities.

The Nature Parks Reconciliation Advisory Committee commences a new term in the coming financial year and the Board was extremely pleased to endorse five First Nations community members to the committee. The Board looks forward to working with the new members to continue the Nature Parks journey towards reconciliation. The Board recognised the incredible efforts of the community members involved in this committee over the past three years, including Uncle Anthony Egan, Paul Patten, Sally O'Neill and Bev Munro.

Visitation to Nature Parks attractions

The Board observed that visitation to Nature Parks attractions experienced stronger-than-forecast growth, surpassing expectations towards the end of the 2023-24 financial year. Despite visitor numbers being lower than the 2018-19 financial year, the organisation's year to date revenue exceeded this target, which was an exciting milestone. This favourable outcome was attributed to stronger than expected international visitors combined with a robust domestic market.

Animal Ethics Committee - membership

This important committee serves to ensure animal research conducted by the Nature Parks is ethical, compliant with legislative standards and upholds animal welfare standards. The Board was updated on recent administrative changes to the committee and endorsed the appointment of Dr Tyrone Lavery to the committee. The Board expressed its appreciation to the experts that volunteered their time on the committee, thanking them for their valuable contribution to the Nature Parks research.

Penguin Parade boardwalks and viewing stands redevelopment project

The Board received a progress update on the Penguin Parade boardwalks and viewing stands redevelopment, noting that stage 1 construction works had commenced as scheduled and were progressing as planned, assisted by favourable weather conditions experienced across May.

While considering the project's timeline, construction stages and budget, the Board reflected on the recent visit by the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events on May 16. Minister Dimopoulos visited the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre to announce a new round of the Regional Tourism Investment Fund - funding which the project was the successful recipient of in 2022. The visit was a timely opportunity to showcase the Nature Parks tourism-related project and to update the Minister on the organisation's other critical infrastructure projects.

Business Planning Activities

Following business planning activities in February and March, the Board endorsed the organisation's Annual Budget and Business Plan for 2024-25 and acknowledged the dedication of the Chief Financial Officer and the finance team in delivering the finalised budget.

Aiming for visitation targets at the Penguin Parade four per cent above 2023-24 forecasts, increased revenue from admissions and targeted growth across shoulder seasons, the Board noted the FY25 budget was generously ambitious and balanced. The Board shared its belief in management's ability to deliver its program of business initiatives and successfully achieve its budget targets.

In 2024-25, the Nature Parks intends to invest in initiatives related to penguin conservation, consolidating its understanding of threats and continuing research aimed at increasing penguin resilience to climate related impacts and monitoring for emerging threats. Investment in critical infrastructure projects at the Penguin Parade and Nobbies will continue, along with improvements to our visitor experience offering, including new product development, system upgrades and website updates.

The Board shared its appreciation of the Victorian State Government for its continued support, including a letter of comfort until November 2024, and noted that it was unlikely the organisation would require further support in the form of a letter of comfort within the coming year.

Strategic Planning

The Board received a progress update on early stages of planning towards the organisation's next long-term strategy and noted the timeline for the strategy's development, delivery and subsequent release in early 2025. The Board looks forward to engaging with management, the community and stakeholders throughout this important journey.

Governance Improvements

At each meeting, the Board considers organisational documents, and in May it was pleased to see the delivery of the organisation's refreshed Code of Conduct. The reinvigorated Code of Conduct aims to engage and inspire the workforce by defining the Nature Parks culture and setting staff up to be their best at work, acting with honesty and integrity, while living the Nature Parks Values.

Strategic Risk Review

This month the Board reviewed and endorsed strategic risks associated with land and wildlife conservation activities on Phillip Island, including the management of potential biosecurity threats that might impact native wildlife or humans, and the protection of the little penguin population. The Board noted the organisation's focus on mitigating risks to the penguin population, which were primarily directed towards the elimination or reduction of threats to penguins, increasing their resilience to climate-related population changes, continuing critical penguin research, particularly within marine spatial planning and monitoring for emerging threats to penguins and other seabirds.

The Board was updated on the significant amount of work undertaken by the team to prepare for the occurrence of avian flu in Australia.