overview: joint management planning gunaikurnai …...the draft plan will then be developed by the...
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OVERVIEW: JOINT MANAGEMENT PLANNING
Gunaikurnai and the State of Victoria- a new partnership to manage
parks and reserves
This overview is provided to inform you about a Draft Joint Management Plan that is being developed for the 10 parks and reserves that will be managed in partnership between the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners and the State of Victoria. To date, significant progress has been made between the partners about the approach to joint management.
It is important that you as key stakeholders have the opportunities to share any relevant knowledge you have of the 10 parks and reserves, and to highlight any issues, concerns and ideas at this stage of the planning process.
This update is supported by an online survey
Please use it to share any feedback or questions you have at this stage. If you would like more information or to arrange to meet the planning team, please email: [email protected]
Full community consultation on the plan will occur once the Draft Plan has been developed and endorsed for consultation by the partners, which is scheduled for mid 2017.
Traditional Owners, DELWP and Parks Victoria jointly managing 10 parks and reserves
Caring for
Country
Educating the wider
community
Protecting heritage
Connecting to Country
Pathways to jobs
A voice for the future
The 10 parks and reserves under Joint Management are:
• Tarra Bulga National Park (1,522 ha)
• The Knob Reserve (56 ha)
• Mitchell River National Park (12,200 ha)
• Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park (17,600 ha)
• Lakes National Park (2,390 ha)
• Gippsland Lakes Reserve at Raymond Island (248 ha)
• Lake Tyers State Park (7,100 ha)
• Buchan Caves Reserve (232 ha)
• Corringle Foreshore Reserve (159 ha)
• New Guinea Cave, within the Snowy River National Park (1,194 ha).
‘Joint management is a process. Arrangements need to be flexible and collaborative… It is an ongoing negotiation of meaning and relationships rather than a partnership of ‘us’ and ‘them’. ’
– GRATTAN MULLETT SNR, CHAIR, GUNAIKURNAI TRADITIONAL OWNER LAND MANAGEMENT BOARD
‘Joint management recognises, respects and incorporates Gunaikurnai culture, knowledge and decision-making.
The partnership combines the land, coastal, forest and marine management skills and expertise of both the State and the Gunaikurnai people.’
The 10 parks and reserves
2010
mid 2016
2017The agreed Joint Management Plan will be endorsed by GLaWAC, DELWP and Parks Victoria, before being presented by the GKTOLMB to the Minister for approval.
2017/18
The plan for managing the 10 parks and reserves will be implemented.
2015
Initial talks were held across Gippsland and Victoria with the partners: Gunaikurnai representative bodies, DELWP and Parks Victoria, and community, on what needed to be included in the plan.
The Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board (GKTOLMB) formed to begin the process for establishing joint management of the 10 parks and reserves.
Wider Gunaikurnai consultations were held to discuss preliminary draft summary ideas for further feedback and comment.
2013
Timeline
On 22 October 2010, the Gunaikurnai people were recognised as holding Native Title over much of Gippsland. On the same day, State Traditional Owner Recognition and Settlement Agreement transferred 10 parks and reserves to be jointly managed with the State.
3.
late 2016Current stageSeeking the input of key user groups to share their experience and to raise any issues relating to the joint management of the 10 parks and reserves.
The Draft Plan will then be developed by the GKTOLMB on behalf of the partners.
The prepared Draft Joint Management Plan will be endorsed by the partners and presented to the DELWP Secretary to be released for wider community consultation.
The wider consultation will include feedback from the community and user groups involved with the 10 parks and reserves.
mid 2017
The partnership between the Gunaikurnai people and the State of Victoria to manage 10 Gippsland parks and reserves under Aboriginal Title gives the Traditional Owners an equal voice and sets goals for what can be achieved by working together in the 10 jointly managed parks and reserves.
Joint management aims to:
• recognise, respect and value Gunaikurnai culture, use, knowledge and decision-making
• promote equality in all relationships and use the combined knowledge and skills of Gunaikurnai people and the State in land, coastal, forest, water and marine management
• work together to conserve, protect and enhance natural and cultural values
• support initiatives that create jobs, education and training opportunities for Gunaikurnai people
• give parks visitors and recreational users new experiences and information that educates them in cultural and environmental awareness.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
A Draft Joint Management Plan is currently being developed to describe how Gunaikurnai people and State agencies will work together to manage Country. An important aim is to identify the steps that will develop Gunaikurnai capacity to use, manage and benefit from ownership of their land.
WHO ARE THE PARTNERS?
The Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) represents the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners in the partnership with the State, represented by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria (PV).
Together, the partners will conserve, protect and enhance natural and cultural values. The roles and responsibilities of each partner will be described in more detail in the Draft Joint Management Plan.
WHO IS WORKING ON THE PLAN?
The Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board (GKTOLMB) has been established to develop the Draft Joint Management Plan with input from partners and community, and to guide the Joint Management process through to approval and implementation. The GKTOLMB is made up of a majority of Traditional Owners, together with community representatives.
The GKTOLMB has undertaken consultation phases with the partners and with the Gunaikurnai community members to make sure their goals are considered. Key stakeholder user groups are also being approached to share knowledge about use of the 10 parks and reserves and to highlight questions or concerns they may want addressed. The Draft Joint Management Plan is being developed and it is planned to be released for a formal public submission period in mid 2017. After the public consultation period, any changes will be endorsed by the partners before the final plan is presented for Ministerial approval.
HOW CAN USER GROUPS BE INVOLVED?
There are many groups and people with strong connections to places within the 10 parks and reserves. There is a history of recreational use by activity-based groups and associations such as bushwalking, camping, 4WD touring, fishing, hunting, boating and horseriding. There are many “Friends of” groups and other community-based volunteer groups, including Landcare, field naturalists, schools and others who are active in volunteer work within parks and reserves. They have a keen interest in the way the parks and reserves are managed.
Many have gained knowledge through their connection with the parks and reserves, including detailed knowledge of local geography, ecology, history and use. There are significant benefits in increasing opportunities for these groups to strengthen these connections, share their knowledge and become participants in the new model of Joint Management of Parks.
SUMMARY
GLaWAC Rangers at Corringle foreshore
4.
4. Identifying, recording and protecting important sites, and improving cultural awareness about actions needed for protection.
5. Developing future visitor experiences to promote cultural education and environmental awareness.
6. Identifying appropriate steps to protect important cultural sites from impacts by erosion, weeds, and pests and also ensure that development and activities remain compatible with protection of those sites.
7. Supporting ways for Gunaikurnai people of all ages to visit and stay on parks to experience spiritual connection and undertake cultural activities.
8. Gunaikurnai Elders and Rangers creating programs to make lifelong positive connections between children, nature and culture in parks and reserves, and the landscape.
9. Using Gunaikurnai traditional knowledge combined with contemporary knowledge and science to tackle the threats from fire, changing climate, weeds, pests and human behaviour.
10. Training to provide services for maintenance of parks and across Country that provide revenue, jobs and pride to Gunaikurnai people.
The GKTOLMB would like to hear from any groups or individuals who may have knowledge and information they believe would assist with developing the Plan, or issues and concerns to raise, with regard to the Joint Management of the 10 parks and reserves. Please complete the online survey and visit our website. If you would like to arrange a meeting with the planning team, contact us via: [email protected].
WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT?
Parks visitors and users will recognise a positive change in the way the 10 parks and reserves are managed. A greater Gunaikurnai presence will be seen through more on-park rangers and new cultural experiences and information, including signage.
In most cases, the existing and recreational use of the parks and reserves will continue as before. Visitors will continue to enjoy existing park use as well as experience new activities that connect them with nature and provide an understanding of culture.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY IDEAS?
1. Developing Gunaikurnai people as leaders in the management of parks on Country through training, taking on greater responsibility and through arrangements that ensure Gunaikurnai have an equal role in the partnership.
2. Improving the cultural, economic and social wellbeing of Gunaikurnai people, through developing jobs on long-term projects, permanent jobs and by setting up or adding value to park-based businesses.
3. Displaying a Gunaikurnai cultural image across the jointly managed parks through using Gunaikurnai names and language on signage and having Gunaikurnai Rangers more visible.
Find out more:If you would like further information about planning for Joint Management of parks and reserves:
w: www.gunaikurnai.com.au
Red Gum at The Knob Reserve
Parks Victoria and GLaWAC Rangers working together 5.
COMBINING KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE
The Draft Plan will aim to combine Gunaikurnai traditional knowledge with the expertise and latest science of DELWP and Parks Victoria to protect, conserve and enhance cultural and environmental values.
The parks and reserves under joint management carry diverse and significant cultural and natural values, including many rare and threatened species and communities, and water regimes. The native vegetation in this region helps make Gippsland one of the great reservoirs of biodiversity in Australia.
Working together, the partners can deliver environmentally and culturally appropriate policies for fire management, pest plant and animal control, heritage management and social development.
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
The plan will consider actions that protect key assets, or help those assets adapt. Some of those actions may include:
• Planning support to protect cultural sites from damage from the effects of climate change.
• Early identification of cultural and heritage values to establish priority places for protection from potential flooding or erosion which may expose unrecorded cultural sites.
• A unique opportunity to showcase cultural and natural heritage projects on the appointed lands including a long-term goal to reintroduce species.
• Priority regional activities identified within the
Regional Catchments Strategies to concentrate on the conservation and restoration of priority habitats for threatened species. Within the jointly managed parks and reserves there are 23 fauna and flora species listed under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and 52 species listed under the Victorian Flora Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).
• Species and habitats important to Gunaikurnai culture will also be a priority for protection, including populations of Gunaikurnai totemic species and traditional food resources.
• Support for initiatives which partner with other community-based programs to restore landscapes, increase connectivity and strategically link areas of remnant habitat and ecological value.
• Gunaikurnai people have a strong history of hunting and are keen to work closely with the relevant State authorities to develop the opportunities for Gunaikurnai people to become active in the management of pest species and game species on joint managed lands.
FIRE MANAGEMENT
The plan will align with the “whole of landscape” approach to fire management.
This approach aims to minimise the impact of major bushfires on human life, communities and infrastructure while maximising biodiversity outcomes.
Fire management (including planned burning) is an essential part of the life of the Gippsland bush. Fire management is moving towards being carried out on a ‘landscape’ basis, regardless of ownership, guided by the Gippsland Regional Strategic Fire Management Plan (2014) and the Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land (2012).
The plan will discuss developing a cultural approach to fire management including fire management strategies that contribute to the health of culturally important plants and animals, protect sites of cultural importance and incorporate traditional knowledge.
Caring for Country
Rangers installing new signage, identifying clan areas
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The Draft Joint Management Plan will look at the natural values for the 10 named parks and reserves that reflect what is important and what needs protection. These values represent Gunaikurnai spiritual connection and cultural knowledge. They also reflect the unique ecosystems and biodiversity values of the 10 jointly managed parks and reserves, and the need to ensure their resilience.
Traditional Owners on Country will ensure that the appropriate cultural ways are embedded within the process, and that the appropriate knowledge is protected and the correct stories are told by the appropriate people.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO PROTECT?
One of the key themes of joint management is to protect Country, which includes the landscape, land, water and air, Gunaikurnai stories, important features and sites of cultural significance.
There are numerous significant cultural heritage sites in the 10 parks and reserves. These include the New Guinea Cave in the Snowy River National Park, the Buchan Cave Reserve, the Den of Nargun in the Mitchell River National Park, Boole Poole in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park and The Knob Reserve.
The plan will consider the development of site-specific policies for important cultural sites, where needed. These will be developed with, and authorised by, Gunaikurnai people and will describe the level of public access, infrastructure requirements and culturally appropriate interpretive themes. Appropriate guidance and information will be developed for visitors.
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
The plan will consider actions such as:
• Managing historic areas to conserve and protect significant historic and cultural values. Recreation and other activities that are consistent with the protection of natural, cultural and historic values will continue to be permitted.
• Development of a Cultural Resource Management Plan.
• Sites and Places recorded under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) process will be assessed and programs implemented to increase the knowledge and use of the ACHRIS system.
Protecting heritage
• Ensuring there is greater awareness and respect for cultural sites by contractors working in parks.
PROTECTING CULTURE
• Agreeing the approved information and language for sharing Gunaikurnai stories. The use of traditional language by rangers will be an important part of presenting appropriate cultural information.
• Developing access and usage policies, where needed, for significant sites.
SHARING CULTURE
The draft joint management plan will follow the principles of Parks Victoria’s Shaping Our Future, which describes how to engage communities in the enjoyment of parks. Potential actions may include:
• the development of a learning place within the parks for Gunaikurnai cultural wellbeing.
• initiatives that protect and present Gunaikurnai culture and language.
The objective is to encourage visitors to share in new experiences of learning about culture on Country.
Lake Tyers State Park
Scarred tree
7.
STRENGTHENING AND RENEWAL
As Traditional Owners, Gunaikurnai people want to strengthen connection to Country by spending time on Country and by renewing knowledge of culture, stories and language.
One of the main aims of joint management is for all Gunaikurnai people to know and exercise their native title rights on Country.
POTENTIAL ACTIONS
The plan will discuss support for Gunaikurnai people to access Country. Ideas include:
• The potential development of new facilities to support cultural activities.
• The opportunity for Gunaikurnai people to stay on Country.
PROVIDING LEADERSHIP ON COUNTRYThe plan will consider ideas including to:
• Encourage appreciation and improve understanding of natural and cultural values and their enjoyment through appropriate interpretation and activities.
• Explore innovative options for managing and presenting culture.
• Bring children, youth and families together with the Gunaikurnai Rangers, Elders and the school network to share learning about nature and about Gunaikurnai culture.
• Develop a cultural heritage interpretation plan and implementation strategy.
The plan will discuss ways to encourage Gunaikurnai people of all ages to get back on Country for enjoyment and to experience connection, improving physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
Connecting to Country
Gunaikurnai Elders, Charmaine Singleton and Beryl Booth
Mitchell River National Park
8.
DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES
A key theme for joint management will be to build capacity and skills and create sustainable, valued jobs where the partners are equals. The Gunaikurnai Rangers, employed through GLaWAC, already have an important role that generates respect and pride in the community.
Such roles are the key to the success of future joint management leadership. The draft plan will consider how to support ongoing development of these careers.
It will consider strategies and actions that offer further training and mentoring to build capacity and skills across all partners, and to develop new business and job opportunities.
The aim is to develop initiatives that are economically sustainable, and provide training for jobs that are valued on Country.
Gunaikurnai rangers work alongside Parks Victoria staff
Pathways to jobs
The Gunaikurnai Parks Rangers, employed through GLaWAC, already have an important role that generates respect and pride in the community. They are the key to the success of future joint management leadership. The draft plan will consider how to support their ongoing development.
Gunaikurnai people will be engaged in the decision-making, management and implementation of actions on the 10 parks and reserves, in accordance with their Native Title rights.
The potential for training, jobs and business development may be considered through a range of strategies and actions, including:
• The potential for new visitor experiences that incorporate education about Country and Gunaikurnai culture.
• A program of two-way learning through Gunaikurnai and Parks Victoria/DELWP by working together on projects and operational activities.
• Further development of rangers’ roles, as a pathway to future transition to other training, job or management opportunities.
• Opportunities for permanent roles, project positions and contracts for goods and services. This may include employment in GLaWAC and partner agencies as well as through business contracts where Gunaikurnai businesses meet the appropriate standards to provide for service delivery, and commercial opportunities within and adjacent to the appointed land.
• New cultural facilities may be developed to enable Gunaikurnai activities on Country.
9.
Educating the wider
community
The aim is to bring the community together where everyone can share experiences. The plan will include strategies and actions that develop enjoyable park experiences, consistent with tourism and park values, while providing for future employment and business opportunities.
ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO CONNECT
As custodians of an ancient culture with strong knowledge and connection to Country, Gunaikurnai people are in a unique position to create new tourism, education and visitor experiences within the jointly managed parks and reserves. The draft plan will offer ideas to support the sharing of Gunaikurnai stories and values with the broader community, visitors and the joint management partners.
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LANGUAGE AND TELLING STORIES
The use of language by Gunaikurnai Rangers and signage in language will be an important part of presenting park information.
Expressing Gunaikurnai stories about Country will be supported to enable traditional and contemporary connection between Gunaikurnai and Country. Stories will be approved by Gunaikurnai as appropriate for use, told in the correct language, in the correct context by the appropriate people.
IMPROVING ACCESS The 10 jointly managed parks and reserves are important places where people connect with nature. They offer attractive and popular destinations for a variety of recreational uses such as: camping, walking, boating, fishing, cycling, horseriding, kayaking and adventure sports. The plan will consider:
• Further development of accommodation and infrastructure to make it easier for people with disabilities to access and enjoy park experiences.
• Improved visitor facilities that support sustainable visitor use and tourism.
• Accessible visitor experiences that incorporate education about Country and culture.
DEVELOPING NEW EXPERIENCES
Gunaikurnai people will be actively engaged in considering, assessing or negotiating any additional or proposed changes to land-use activities on the 10 jointly managed parks and reserves.
Management of visitor experiences may adapt and change as visitor needs change.
• New visitor experiences and nature-based tourism proposals will be considered by the Gunaikurnai people and partner agencies on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are compatible with the parks’ and reserves’ natural and cultural values.
• Specific visitor access policies will be explored and supported where appropriate.
The plan’s success will ultimately be measured against formal structures of rights, responsibilities and decision-making, but also against the goodwill and support that exisits between the partners, along with other social, cultural and environmental indicators.
HOW DOES THE PLAN WORK?
The aim of the draft Joint Management Plan will be to provide a structure that helps decisions to be made about the operations of the 10 jointly managed parks and reserves. It is a living document that will evolve over time.
The plan will give the Gunaikurnai people and State Government a framework where each partner’s rights
A voice for
the future
and responsibilities are clearly defined, and which can be measured.As with any new arrangements, the partners will need to regularly look at how the plan is working and make adjustments.
The draft plan will address the need to have regular reviews of agreed measurements of progress. These help to assess and learn what is working and what isn’t working. The agreed measures might include not only the cultural and natural values on the parks, but also some social, management and economic values. For instance, these could include: visitor numbers and feedback, project works successfully completed and new relationships with businesses.
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Find out more:If you would like further information about planning for Joint Management of parks and reserves:
w: www.gunaikurnai.com.au
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE AT THIS STAGE
Community input is an essential part of the planning process and the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board (GKTOLMB) has been established to develop the plan through consultation stages with partners, key stakeholder/user groups and the broader community.
When the plan has been drafted and released for public consultation, the GKTOLMB will seek the views of the local community, visitors and other interested groups and individuals.
While we are in the development stage, we would like your group to review the topics in this overview and consider:
• What area of park management, in relation to the above topics, would you like to see remain the same or managed differently?
• What ideas do you have for the future of these parks and reserves?
• What knowledge would you like to share about the 10 parks and reserves and their use?
• What issues or concerns do you want to see addressed?
If you would like to discuss these issues further with the planning team, please contact us at: [email protected]
CASE STUDY: FIRE CREW
A key action is for Gunaikurnai people to be trained to contribute to fire prevention and suppression activities, equally with other joint management partners. They will gain accredited skills and experiences and take roles protecting the Gippsland community.
The first group of Gunaikurnai rangers to complete the rigorous General Fire Fighter training has begun working with DELWP on planned burning. The GLaWAC fire crew performed the first light-up of the 2015 autumn planned burning program, alongside DELWP colleagues. It marked the start of a partnership approach to incorporate traditional and technical knowledge in future fire planning.
CASE STUDY: SPERM WHALE HEAD VISITOR FACILITIES
The Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) is leading a project to update day visitor facilities and interpretive signage at Sperm Whale Head (Point Wilson) in the Lakes National Park. This is the first major joint management on-ground project combining Gunaikurnai rangers and Parks Victoria staff, and is intended to improve visitor experience and increase cultural awareness.
The site is an area of cultural significance for Gunaikurnai people and is also a popular site for visitors to the Gippsland Lakes. The project will help document and interpret Gunaikurnai cultural heritage, share knowledge between Gunaikurnai people and land management agencies, enhance the skills of all staff involved and improve visitor facilities at the site.
w
CASE STUDY: THE KNOB RESERVE
A new Committee of Management for the Knob Reserve at Stratford has been appointed and its members consist of representatives from GLaWAC, DELWP and the GKTOLMB. This is a pilot to trial joint management on DELWP managed land under a joint committee of management. Funding from Federal and State Governments has been received for two significant ecological projects at the reserve and will be started once a Cultural Heritage Mapping assessment has been completed.
DELWP Regional Director Stephen Chapple said: “The joint Committee of Management is already making substantial progress in identifying the full range of cultural, recreational and environmental values at The Knob Reserve so they can be experienced and appreciated by all users and visitors.”
SOME FIRST STEPS
During this period of engagement and development of the overall Draft Joint Management Plan, the partners considered it important to show how this partnership can work. They have begun a series of pilot initiatives, working together.
DELWP, Parks Victoria and GLaWAC, together with other agencies, have begun several joint management projects. These projects serve to show the willingness of the partners to work together, learn from each other and share knowledge. These initiatives will continue over the period the Plan is being developed and will help to demonstrate the commitment and the range of actions that can be addressed within the Plan.
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