April 15, 2012
Wildlife.corridors@environment.gov.au
tony.burke.MP@aph.gov.au
Bob Debus AM Chair, National
Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group
Submission
Why we need National Wildlife Corridors
From
Maryland Wilson, President
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
(AWPC)
Thank you Chair, Bob Debus and Environment Minister
Burke for this opportunity to establish interconnected,
continuous wildlife corridors
AWPC will concentrate on Devilbend, a 1005 Hectare Reserve
on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, which is denied
proper Classification
A designation change from a ‘Natural Features Reserve’, under Section 4(1)(m) (and Part 3
of the Fifth Schedule) of the Crown Land Reserves Act 1978 to Devilbend as a ‘Nature
Conservation Reserve’ under Section 4(1)(0) (and Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule) of the same
Act, is absolutely critical if we are to save remaining native species on the Mornington
Peninsula. Interconnecting wildlife corridors, through private land, minimum 100 metres in
width and rigorous preservation and restoration of Devilbend as a central core Reserve are
essential to reserve the area for ‘the propagation or management of wildlife or the
preservation of habitat’
Co-operation and support of landowners is needed to link key habitat areas so recolonisation and genetic exchange between populations can occur, and to secure the
future of small isolated populations.
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
Why wildlife and Devilbend need protecting
The Mornington Peninsula’s Devilbend is a watershed opportunity to restore a
biodiverse core nucleus habitat to link interconnecting wildlife corridors, with
the rest of the Peninsula. This valuable remnant vegetation, and its over 200
species of native fauna has naturally evolved because for the past 50 years,
entry to the reservoirs and its surrounding landscapes has been restricted.
Indigenous flora and fauna have had virtual protection in this keystone habitat
during this time of limited access.
Most of Victoria’s native bushland has been cleared.
Victorian have lost 35 per cent of its’ wetlands and most waterways are
degraded. Devilbend has 42 per cent of native vegetation, with eleven
ecological classes present, eight endangered in Gippsland Plans Bioregion.
The Swamp scrub is of state significance due to its highly depleted nature and
low level protection in conservation reserves; over 216 fauna species, and 19
State significant birds, one nationally significant fish, and the Growling Grass Frog.
Genetic dispersal and variation is the genetic key to survival of species.
Our fauna depend on being able to migrate between genetically diverse populations.
Devilbend must be managed as a central core habitat link for wildlife corridors to prevent
genetic drift, as native species need genetic diversity and variability to ensure their survival.
Research shows that when native species are trapped in isolated, fragmented areas of habitat,
without interconnecting habitat in which to move, breed or live, over time their populations
implode and they die-out, resulting in local extinction. The Mornington Peninsula has lost many
species – invertebrates, mammals, especially the small macropods, birds and plants. Devilbend
Reserve is so important, that, properly managed, it could prevent further extinctions.
Our conservation concern for the future of wildlife
Malcolm Legg, ecologist, Glenn Ehmke, Birds Australia
“When wildlife is lost from a landscape/region, the number of species decline and local
extinctions result. Extinction however, is a process, not an event, and the time scale over which
species loss occurs is highly variable and species-specific. Therefore, despite the fact that major
changes may have occurred in the past, the effects of those changes are in many cases yet to be
fully manifested. This “time-lag” between landscape change and species loss is termed “species
relaxation” or “extinction debt”. A number of studies both overseas and in Australia where
landscape modification is very recent (-200 years) have identified extinction debt as a significant
concern for biodiversity conservation in highly modified landscapes. Even in the absence of
further direct loss and fragmentation of habitat, degradation of habitats will continue as weed
invasions, dieback, edge effects and other processes impact isolated remnants, and isolated
populations will continue to suffer the effects of genetic drift, inbreeding and susceptibility to
chance events. Thus, the local populations of some species may be expected to decline to
extinction over time. This is reflected in the large number of threatened and declining species in
the region today.”
Source: AWPC Devilbend leaflet www.awpc.org.au Holistic approach is a necessary tool of management for Devilbend Reserve
We must act now if we are to save rapidly disappearing native species from certain demise, due to
drought, climate change, and bushfires, or we drive them further to extinction. With Peninsula
Link- roads & freeways proposed on the Peninsula, dredging on sides, human population growth
& increased development, all our native birds and animals are threatened.
Recreational uses have been accepted by Park Victoria for Devilbend; it will lose the values
for which its conservation features have been declared. Devilbend is not even now
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
monitored to a degree sufficient to prevent illegal activities, let alone being able to cope with
development on the scale proposed by Parks Victoria in 2012.
Devilbend as a wildlife sanctuary
Practical Ecology’s Flora and Fauna Assessment, 2 May 2008, p.5 considers Devilbend
‘state significant’ because of its flora, vegetation, fauna and habitats (especially wetlands). ‘There
is a demonstrable need to effectively mitigate against loss of species as a result of recreational
activities’ (Practical Ecology p.59).
Our very strong opposition to developing Devilbend as a playground for recreational
users, with all the negative ecological impacts on native birds and animals has been, and
continues to be, ignored by government. The Practical Ecology Report stated firmly that
“disturbances such as fishing, boating, bushwalking and bird watching have the potential to lead
to the flushing of birds from nests, territories or shelter”(ibid p 59)
To protect, preserve what is in Devilbend, a management plan should include:

Removal of grazing leases, incompatible with conserving,protecting biodiversity;

Natural regeneration focus on highest quality areas, identifying wildlife corridors
and linking these to neighbouring private properties and public lands outside the Reserve;

Kangaroo proof fences erected throughout Mornington Peninsula Shire are
preventing safe migration of wildlife, pushing them into unsuitable habitat and causing
unnecessary road deaths; smaller species are snared in the fence trip wire and die.

Bushland within private properties needs to be secured for wildlife links

With relatively few visitors over the past 20 years or so, the reserve should be
full of native animals – not foxes, cats, pigs, goats and deer, which must all be removed.

Devilbend– the largest new reserve on the Peninsula should be a jewel in the
crown of the Victorian government. The opening up of new trails, a new picnic
ground, fishing and its infrastructure are likely to further decimate wildlife.

“We need not only to protect what is there but also to re-introduce species that
were lost over time. It is the long term potential that matters most. This can be achieved if
Devilbend is properly protected and managed,” according to ecologist and forensic
scientist Hans Brunner, Submitted by Maryland Wilson, President
Australian Wildlife Protection Council/ Coordinator Coalition for Wildlife Corridors
October 23, 2006
Ian Miles DSE Executive Director
Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services PO
Box 500 E Melb Vic 3002
re: Link to Devilbend Reserve
Continuous, connecting wildlife corridors is best
solution to DSE ‘destruction to ensure balance’
mentality, and protect our unique wildlife heritage
for future generations. Safe habitat upon which our
native wild species depend for survival is essential.
Dear Dr Miles,
DSE hierarchy is lagging far behind in wildlife
protection with their colonial mentality "If it
moves shoot it, and if it doesn't chop it down".
Your 'balance' approach does not work because
wildlife always loses: ~ It is obscene that you treat
sentient beings with such callous abandon!
Wildlife corridors must be established as a matter
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
of urgency.
DSE issues 80,000 animal control permits "Wildlife in the Gun" Herald Sun article ~
October 20, 2006 by Sarah Wotherspoon
Macropod expert Doug Reilly 'From Conservation to Exploitation in South Australia' Page 36
‘The Kangaroo BETRAYED” (1999 Hill of Content Publishing, Melbourne ):
"In any wild animal if you disrupt in a short period of time the
normal reproductive processes that have evolved over tens of
thousands of years you are in danger of putting the species at risk.
Precedents have been set in other parts of the world where large
populations of a species have faced extinctions after widespread
and destructive 'culling' programs. Many of these species suffer
incursions of exotic bacterias and viruses when their populations
contained a critical and unsustainable gene pool."
"Where pastoralists (with sheep, cattle and crops) are in competition
with any native animal, the government administrators always favour the
land owner. Whatever native animal is involved, that animal is marked
for destruction." 'The Kangaroo Betrayed' 1999 page 37 AWPC publication
DSE policies of death and destruction have nothing to do with 'balance' as wildlife has no voice.
Your 'balance' is to cater to landholders who, as proved in Caufield Grammar School fiasco, the
permit issued by DSE to kill kangaroos was revoked when the facts became known. Kangaroos
would have been murdered, as DSE Officer Tom Thuys gave the permit in the name of 'balance'.
Link to Devilbend Map of Mornington Peninsula shows a large 400 acre plot of land on Brown's
Rd- Rosebud, that has been allocated to a market garden farmer, displacing and traumatising
Eastern Grey kangaroos, whose habitat, this land rightfully is. Without a thought DSE, others
think they have a right to trample over all of the other species with whom they share this planet,
with no regard for their survival or their welfare, many of which once thrived, plentiful but are
now endangered or extinct.
The Eastern Grey Kangaroos are ‘supposed' to move to Greens Bush, to join other trapped,
displaced, disorientated kangaroos. This is the ‘balance’ that allows horse-breeder Lloyd
Williams, the 400 acre market gardener and others with an economic incentive to create more and
more misery for kangaroo mobs, displaced, disorientated, traumatised and in the final solution
killed, or as they say in DSE 'culled'
This scenario is repeated many times. Parks Victoria is paying a consultant to count kangaroos
that will be killed at Greens Bush. These mobs are counted so ‘culling’ can occur because ‘there
are too many of them’. If there are too many of them it is because humans have stolen their
habitat and forced them into Greens Bush or just forced them out. DSE continues to issue permits
in the name of 'balance' but the economic imperative over-rides all decisions.
Neil Burgess Liberal Candidate for Hastings was happy to tell me at Frankston Train Station,
28.9.06 ..."there are ten times more kangaroos than is sustainable; they have to be 'culled', "The
fact that Liberals want to introduce commercial killing is part of the 'balance' process you employ
and the reason why 41,378 grey kangaroos were murdered from July 1, 2005 to July 27, 2006.
Greens Bush is used as a dumping ground for kangaroos; there are constant calls to kill them.
You are obligated to provide safe passage for them in habitat that is connected and continuous
and linked to existing national parks, reserves. We must NOT kill them under any
circumstances ...as we have the perfect solution to your 'balance' problem: Wildlife
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
Corridors- interconnected continuous links to Devilbend/ core habitat
Humans have caused this problem; it is up to them to fix it humanely, with empathy for the future
survival of kangaroo mobs. Bio-links are the only solution to this abuse of our ethical and moral
duty and responsibility we all must share, to protect our wildlife heritage for future generations.
Eastern Grey kangaroos are endangered in 20 out of 100 sites surveyed on the Mornington
Peninsula, and extinct in the 80 that had none at all, so they are extinct. What an indictment on all
at DSE. We are losing our beautiful grey kangaroos. The strongest and fittest must survive to
ensure variability in the gene pool.
You can fix the 'balance' immediately by establishing continuous, connecting, wildlife corridors
all linked and connected and continuous. It is your duty to do so. Kangaroos maintain and control
their own populations as they have done for the past 16 million years of evolution before the last
200 years of persecution, in the name of 'balance' Sincerely, Maryland Wilson, President
Victoria Requires a Fauna Data Base (Local Government, Shires, Councils)
Victoria has no Fauna Management Framework. No one keeps such records. There is a Native
Vegetation Management Framework! The state is zoned agricultural, living off the sheep’s back/
wheat crops/ irrigators/ permaculture/ goat/emu farmers.DSE former Dir General, Chloe Munroe,
former Premiers, have all stated that Agriculture is their number one priority, (not wildlife).
Kangaroos are trapped in suburban sprawl- people hate them, students torment, harass them.
Children not taught to respect them which is why there are so many incidents of young people
cruelly torturing and harming them. Victoria’s Minister for Planning allows or disallows
environmental destruction.
Page 20 of AWPC ‘The Kangaroo BETRAYED’, “Victorian Inquiry into Commercial Utilisation of
Native Fauna”
“Michael Delahunty, professional shooter gave evidence that if there is no commercial
Industry in Victoria, the shooting is inhumane and that farmers simply kill kangaroos as
they desire and in a brutal way. The hunter from the Shooting Sports Council of Victoria
said that the illegal take of kangaroos in Australia is as big as the legal take.
Delahunty said that the way kangaroos are destroyed is inhumane and that we Victorians
should have a kangaroo industry. He claimed to have lots of visitors involved in wildlife
products and that the kangaroo killing industry would be most viable. A most disturbing
question came from one of the Committee Member, Mrs Helen Shardley. MP who asked
‘Do you think we have enough people trained in Victoria to kill kangaroos?’ see book
Bureaucrats, politicians fail responsibility for welfare; DSE fast tracks permits to kill them.
Wildlife Corridors in Shire/ approximately 79 Councils in Victoria- Need to prioritise, identify
existing corridors of land as first to be targeted; rural areas easily lend themselves to wildlife
corridors, so do some metropolitan Councils; Bundara area where hundreds of kangaroos are
possibly facing extinction because of the sale of the La Trobe Uni land to a private developer.
We can map out wildlife corridor in Puckapunyal area; including north and south; target those
Councils. There are the Cape Schank kangaroos, Hume Shire Council, Whittlesea Shire Council.
Maroondah Shire Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Find where kangaroos reside in Victoria and map them.
There are two ways to deliver our message to Councils:


Firstly, by in-person-submission direct to Council meetings (preferred);
Secondly, by written submission to appropriate person, CEO or Mayor, or Ward
Councilor for those Councils which make no democratic provision for direct access to
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
Council? Each Council is unique and the language of our submission should reflect this.

QUESTIONS:
 Does Victoria have mappings of kangaroo populations in geographic locations?
 Where are the kangaroos?
 What do we know about kangaroo populations in Victoria?
 Does the Environment Minister implementing the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act
Why is there is no Native Fauna Management Framework yet a Native Vegetation one?
Connecting, continuous corridors at least 100 metres in width linked to National Parks and
existing reserves, sanctuaries, private land continuous and connected is the goal !!!
‘When habitat is lost from a landscape/ region, the number of species decline and local
extinctions result. Extinction is a process, not an event, and the time scale over which
species loss occurs is highly variable and species-specific’. Our fauna depend on being
able to migrate between genetically diverse populations to ensure survival.
Devilbend Reserve is an important Bio- Link
Why wildlife and Devilbend need protecting
Parks Victoria is obliged to use the Precautionary principle: “We must act together to prevent
impacts, particularly where there is potential for serious or irreversible damage to occur. A lack of
scientific certainty or information should not delay these actions, towards working towards
restoration as an intact haven for wildlife.”
(Parks’ Guiding Principles Appendix 1 Devilbend Reserve Community Workshop, 22.11.07 P5 Sect. 3)
A holistic approach is needed to manage Devilbend Reserve as a necessary tool of
management to save rapidly declining species from certain demise, if we do not heed their
vulnerable state, now subject to drought and climate change. With roads and freeways proposed
on Mornington Peninsula, dredging on both sides of the Peninsula, massive population growth
and industrial development, birds and animals are threatened. If inappropriate recreational uses
are accepted for Devilbend Reserve, the reserve will lose the very values for which it has been
declared a Natural Features Reserve. At present, Devilbend is not monitored to a degree sufficient
to prevent illegal activities occurring, let alone development on a scale proposed in the Parks
Draft Management Plan 2008.
The McPhail Report State of Environment 2008 slates Victoria for failing to protect
native species, and clearing more land than any other state in Australia. The critique of Victorian
bureaucrats impacts directly on the importance of Devilbend as core nucleus habitat on the
Mornington Peninsula. Devilbend must be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary.
“When wildlife is lost from a landscape/region, the number of species decline and local
extinctions result. Extinction however, is a process, not an event, and the time scale over which
species loss occurs is highly variable and species-specific. Therefore, despite the fact that major
changes are in many cases yet to be fully manifested… [Something missing here]. This “timelag” between landscape change and species loss is termed “species relaxation” or “extinction
debt”. A number of studies both overseas and in Australia where landscape modification is very
recent (-200 years) have identified extinction debt as a significant concern for biodiversity
conservation in highly modified landscapes. Even in the absence of further direct loss and
fragmentation of habitat, degradation of habitats will continue as weed invasions, dieback, edge
effects and other processes impact isolated remnants, and isolated populations will continue to
suffer the effects of genetic drift, inbreeding and susceptibility to chance events. Thus, the local
populations of some species may be expected to decline to extinction over time. This is reflected
in the large number of threatened and declining species in the region today.”
Devilbend leaflet produced with Malcolm Legg, ecologist and Glenn Emhke, Birds Australia reveals our
strong conservation concern for the future survival of wildlife:
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
Genetic dispersal and variation is the genetic key to survival of species. Devilbend must be
managed as central core habitat link for wildlife corridors, thus preventing genetic drift so species
have genetic diversity /variability dispersal through wildlife corridors to ensure their survival.
Research shows that native species trapped in isolated, fragmented areas of habitat, and
populations without interconnecting habitat in which to move, breed or live, eventually implode
and die-out, causing local extinction. We already know that Mornington Peninsula has lost many
species – invertebrates, mammals, especially the small macropods, birds and plants. Devilbend
reserve, properly managed, could play a major role in stopping such extinctions.
Devilbend as a wildlife sanctuary
Practical Ecology Pty Ltd considered that (p 5, report 2008) Devilbend is ‘state significant’
because of its flora, vegetation, fauna and habitats (especially wetlands). “There is a demonstrable
need to effectively mitigate against loss of species as a result of recreational activities’ (Practical
Ecology p 59). It behoves government to pay more respectful attention to the expertise and public
opinion that the Devilbend Foundation and AWPC bring to this Draft Management Plan.
Government's job is to adapt to our demands, not to impose the demands of developers, big
business and specialised interest groups on us or the rest of the people and creatures on the
Peninsula. Our very strong opposition to developing Devilbend as a playground for recreational
users, with all the negative ecological impacts on native birds and animals continues to be
ignored. Practical Ecology stated firmly that “disturbances such as fishing, boating, bushwalking
and bird watching have the potential to lead to the flushing of birds from nests, territories or
shelter”(ibid p 59)
Existing habitat in parks and reserves on the Peninsula is not good kangaroo habitat
 the role of Devilbend as core nucleus habitat - Devilbend should support a significant
kangaroo population but is sparsely populated, due to unfriendly Kangaroo-Proof
fencing, hunting in years past by lessees, feral animals ect.
We need a management plan that includes:





Habitat improvement in existing reserves and parks and the establishment of important
wildlife corridors linking Devilbend to Greens Bush, Arthur’s Seat, etc so that range
animals like kangaroos can have freedom of movement for genetic dispersal;
Removal of grazing leases incompatible to conserving and protecting biodiversity;
Natural regeneration/ restoration approaches focusing on highest quality areas to start;
Identifying wildlife corridors to link to neighbouring properties/ public lands outside
Devilbend
Devilbend has lost its populations of Southern Brown Bandicoots, potoroos, echidnas,
platypus, koalas and less common gliders, frogs, Water rats and possibly bats. With
relatively few visitors over the past 20 +years, the reserve should be full of native animals
– not foxes, cats, pigs, goats and deer. Poor management is probably to blame. The Draft
Management Plan from Parks Victoria should provide a modern, innovative and effective
Plan for managing the public estate – the biggest new reserve on the Peninsula and one
that should be a jewel in the crown of the Victorian government. We see little evidence of
this in the proposed management; indeed, the opening up of new trails, a new picnic
ground, fishing and its infrastructure are likely to further decimate wildlife, spoil any
changes of rehabilitation and disappoint the many concerned people in the community.
To manage Devilbend reserve as core habitat and to establish corridor-linkage, Re-Classification of
Devilbend is critical to preventing the total demise of wildlife on the Mornington Peninsula. A designation
change from a ‘Natural Features Reserve’, under Section 4 (1) (m) (Part 3 of the Fifth Schedule) of the Crown
Land Reserves Act 1978 to Devilbend as a ‘Nature Conservation Reserve’ under Section 4(1) (0) (and Part 1
of the Fifth Schedule) of the same Act, to save rapidly disappearing native species on the Mornington
Peninsula. Interconnecting wildlife corridors, through private land, minimum 200 metres in width, and the
rigorous preservation and restoration of Devilbend as a central core Reserve are essential to reserve the area
for ‘the propagation or management of wildlife or the preservation of habitat’
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
DSE at work killing native wildlife above! A last resort?
Respectfully submitted, Maryland Wilson, President
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc
KINDNESS HOUSE, 2nd Floor, 288 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia
TEL: 03 5978 8570 FAX: 03 5978 8302 MOB: 0417 148 501
kangaroo@hotkey.net.au
www.awpc.org.au
www.rootourism.com.au
Patrons: Professor Peter Singer and the Hon Richard Jones Registered Charity: A0012224D