Nature Parks Board Update – September 2023
The Phillip Island Nature Parks Board met on the 26 September 2023 on Phillip Island at the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre.
Below are highlights from the September 2023 Board meeting:
VISITATION
The Board was pleased to see that visitation trends established across the past 12-months had continued into the first quarter of FY24, with visitor numbers and revenue close to 2019 levels. The pleasing results were supported by a greater shift towards international visitors and increased distributor sales.
During the month, we welcomed a particularly notable visitor, then Minister for the Environment, the Hon Ingrid Stitt MP, who visited Conservation Hill, the Koala Conservation Reserve, and Summerland Beach, and was briefed by the Chair and CEO on Phillip Island Nature Parks operations. It was an opportunity to thank her and her Department for the ongoing support for the Nature Parks over the past few challenging years. We look forward to working with newly appointed Minister for the Environment the Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
The Board discussed insights from the Situation Analysis paper, recently developed by Destination Phillip Island (DPI) following stakeholder consultation for a San Remo and Phillip Island Destination Management Plan (DMP). The Board looks forward to learning more about how this important strategic plan will shape the region’s tourism direction at a further briefing with Destination Phillip Island.
Ahead of its own Strategic Planning Day, scheduled for October, the Board considered the Nature Parks’ strategic planning framework and contemplated the criteria to be used to determine the organisation’s future strategic priorities and longer-term direction.
MAJOR PROJECTS
The Board received an update on plans for key Nature Parks projects, such as the Summerland Peninsula Trails and other projects, including critical infrastructure works needed at the Penguin Parade to ensure its boardwalks and associated facilities remained compliant, and the Nobbies, Koala Conservation Reserve and other reserves so that public infrastructure continues to meet visitor and community needs.
The Board was pleased to see the breadth of planning activities undertaken by Management to ensure that projects are ready to proceed when funds are available. In addition, the Board noted the work by Management in advocacy for these important projects.
BOARD GOVERNANCE ACTIONS
This month, the Board was pleased to endorse the Nature Parks’ Annual Report for the year ending 30 June 2023. The Board anticipates that following the receipt of an unqualified audit opinion, the report will be tabled in Parliament before being released to the team and our community. The report covers what was a successful year of growth and rebound, and it is a testament to all at the Nature Parks’ staff, volunteers, partners, and stakeholders who collectively achieved so much!
Each year, as we approach the upcoming fire season, our team reviews its fire preparedness and updates our strategic risk associated with fire on Crown land. The Board received a progress update from our Ranger in Charge on the various mitigation measures our team employs to manage this risk, including strategic fire breaks in critical areas, slashing to reduce fuel load, planned fuel reduction burns and vegetation modification in both structure and species to promote fire resilient habitat. Along with recent announcements regarding Australia entering El Nino weather pattern, the Board noted the upcoming fire season was expected to be higher than the previous season.
In addition to endorsing the organisation’s revised fire risk approach, the Board also approved the organisation’s risk plan which considers the impacts of climate change to its operations. This plan was initially developed in May 2022 and considers the local and global impacts of climate change and its impacts to Nature Parks.
ATTRACTION PRICING
Annually, the Nature Parks updates its admissions rates to its visitor attractions to enable advance planning by distributors and tour operators. These prices are reviewed in line with the Department of Treasury and Finance’s guidelines. This month, the Board considered proposed changes to admissions rates and endorsed the rates for the period of April 2024 to March 2025.
FORMER RHYLL LANDFILL
The Board received a briefing on the former landfill at Rhyll, which is on Crown Land now managed by the Nature Parks. Historically, the site was leased to Bass Coast Shire Council to operate as a landfill and transfer station, and to manage its post closure after care. The Board was briefed on the arrangements for the next long-term lease agreement with Bass Coast Shire Council for the site so that it can continue to meet its obligations. The Board was pleased to receive an update on the most recent audit of ongoing monitoring of the site, which indicated a low risk to the environment.
Kevin Love
Chair
Phillip Island Nature Parks