Nature Parks Board update – March 2022

By Kevin Love, Chair

The Phillip Island Nature Parks’ Board met on March 23 and 24 on Phillip Island.

This month the board were able to resume their induction and familiarisation activities for the new Board Members which included meeting some of the staff across the sites.

On Wednesday, in addition to our Board meeting, Senior Ranger, Daniel Kallstrom hosted the board on a walking tour of the eucalypt woodland at the Koala Conservation Reserve, upon which, they viewed the Bush Stone-curlews and some resident koalas enjoying a mid-day nap.

They were provided a behind the scenes tour of the Barb Martin Bushbank with the Nursery Coordinator, James Anderson and were especially impressed with the diversity of indigenous plants on offer at the nursery.

That evening, they enjoyed a dinner in Cowes, followed by an entertaining show on the Penguin Parade stands watching the penguins waddle home, hosted by our Visitor Experience Supervisor, Gretel Templeton.

The following day, they held the annual Budget Planning Workshop with Management at the Nobbies Centre, where they used the new upgraded conferencing facilities in the Ocean and Summerland rooms. We look forward to these facilities hosting conferences and events in the years to come.

The Board noted that the Nature Parks operations has continued to be affected by border closures and restrictions for the first six months of the year. Although a good summer period has helped with cash flows, the rest of the year will be tight.

Below are some more highlights from the March Board meeting:

Food and beverage operations

We announced in February that Delaware North, the Nature Parks’ food and beverage partner will be leaving the Nature Parks. This month the Board received a progress update on the expression of interest for food and beverage services and was pleased to see a number of capable providers being considered by the evaluation panel. The Board discussed the goals and future aspirations for meeting the needs and expectations of our visitors. The Board endorsed Management to proceed to the next stage of the project.

Distinctive Areas and Landscapes (DAL) Program

In recognition of Bass Coast’s unique features and special characteristics, the Victorian Government declared the Bass Coast Shire a 'distinctive area and landscape' under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, enabling better protection of the area’s environmental and cultural values through planning and robust decision making.

As the public entity responsible for land management on Phillip Island, the Nature Parks’ Board is supportive of the distinctive area and landscape planning process and discussed a Nature Parks’ submission to the consultation.

The Board noted that the objectives set out in the DAL were consistent with that of the Nature Parks.

Strategic risk and policy review

Each month the Board undertakes a monthly strategic risk review and considers organisational policies. Last month the Board endorsed the Child Protection and Safety Procedure, approving changes to move towards all Nature Parks’ staff and volunteers holding Working with Children checks.

This month the Board reviewed and endorsed the organisations strategic risk associated with the protection and safeguarding of children on Nature Parks’ sites and reserves. The Board noted the controls and treatments management has in place to mitigate this risk and was comforted to see that over 50 per cent of staff had undertaken the Child Safety training being rolled out by People and Culture.