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Wilsons Prom Community Newsletter
Spring 2022
Wilsons Promontory is an Aboriginal cultural landscape. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Traditional Owners have to these lands and waters and will continue to work together with them to care for Country.
This newsletter will update you on what is happening at the Prom and how to get involved.
We encourage you to share this newsletter and sign up to the email list. You can sign up for emails here, and stay up to date with community engagement via Engage Victoria.
A new way of booking your campsite at Tidal River
When you're heading down to the Prom next, a new online campsite booking system is in place.
Here's what you need to know
- When booking, you will need to choose the specific avenue and site number you wish to stay on.
- An interactive map has been set up so that you can see the location, if it's powered or unpowered, the size, availability and specific number of the site you wish to book.
- If you choose to extend your stay you will need to visit the booking website, confirm that your preferred site is available and book. If the site is not available, you will need to choose an alternate site, move and enjoy your camping experience with a different perspective.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Prom soon.
Prom Sanctuary
Back from the Brink
Broad-toothed Rat rediscovered
A team of scientist and researchers from Parks Victoria and Zoos Victoria recently rediscovered the Broad-toothed Rat at Wilsons Promontory. The last time this elusive native rodent was seen at the Prom was in the 1990s.
Restoring Country
Seed collecting with the Bushbank Project - funded by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
This month has seen our newly established Bushbank team gear up, and head out into the Prom to start collecting seed. This dedicated team aims to collect over 16kg of seed within the next 12 months, which means a-LOT of tree climbing and hand-picking seed capsules, AKA gumnuts. To put that in perspective - 16kg of seed = 50 pillowcases of gumnuts!
What makes a tree suitable to donate seed?Firstly, the tree needs to be one of the identified target species; Southern Blue Gum, Mountain Ash, Yellow Stringy, Messmate, or Mountain Grey Gum. The tree must be with seed, healthy, without hollows, safe for our arborist to climb, and we must hold the appropriate permits to retrieve the seed.
When dropped, our ground crew hand prunes each seed capsule from the branch, records the tree species, location, number of trees collected from, and includes a sample of leaf and capsules in the bag.
Where does the seed go next? The capsules are then dried out and provided to the Friends of the Prom (FOTP) volunteer group to work their magic.
Top left: Arborist choosing a suitable tree
Top right: Setting up and climbing the target tree
Bottom left: Handpicking seed capsules from the dropped branches
Bottom right: The first bag of seed
Next newsletter we will explore the Volunteer Groups' work in extracting, sorting and testing the viability of the collected seed.
Back from the Brink
Eastern Spider-orchid growing in numbers post burn
Eastern Spider-orchid, Caladenia orientalis
After counting only seven Eastern Spider-orchids in 2018, rangers have recently returned to the 20-year-old plot built to protect this endangered species to find the population growing to ~200 individuals. From which, more than 95% had flowers and a handful were pollinated!
Why have their numbers increased?
In 2021, a planned burn was conducted in the area. Rangers believe that the recent increase in orchid numbers really highlights the continued need for applying planned burn programs to ecosystems that benefit from fire at the Prom and exclude invasive grazing species.
This is very positive news for this special species.
Pest Free Nature
Creating habitat by targeting weeds
It’s not just the native plants that love spring, so do the weeds 🙁.
And this month we are focusing on the Wood Forget-me-not (WFMN), a significant environmental weed.
Found in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) this weed is commonly found next to waterways. Due to its location and local frog species such as the Southern Toadlet and Striped March Frog rangers must hand-pull each plant.
The Prom Sanctuary Invasive Species team has already delivered more than 175,000 m² of pest plant works across the park this financial year!
How can you help?
Put your ‘pest plant eyes on’ in your backyard and remove the weeds from your garden. Try swapping a weed for a native plant and create habitat for wildlife.
Before going on a walk and after, check for seeds that might be hitch hiking on your clothes. Stop them travelling and remove them!
Become actively involved in weed removal and habitat restoration by volunteering with Friends of the Prom, or your local volunteering club.
Meet the team
Tara, Environment, Land & Water Coordinator
What lead you to the Prom Sanctuary?
I have a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology/Zoology), a Graduate Diploma of Education and over 10 years’ experience in Marine Education (Marine Discovery Centre, Queenscliff).
I worked as the Team Leader in the Education and Environment teams at the Prom. For several years I've held ranger roles and had a short stint in the Regional Operations Team working on various environmental projects with Parks Victoria.
This role is a great opportunity to work with a passionate team of people on a broad range of programs, which will have a significant impact on the recovery of key habitats and species within Wilsons Promontory.
Ruby, Project Officer - Invasive Species
What lead you to the Prom Sanctuary?
I’ve worked for Parks Victoria for approximately six years in various positions and parks. Before starting on the Prom Sanctuary team, I spent two years working in the Great Otway National Park as part of the Biodiversity Response Planning Project tackling woody weeds across the Otways where I gained experience and knowledge of pest plant management and native species.
What are your Prom favourites?
Place - Banksia woodlands in the remote north section.
Plant - Can’t pick one, definitely an orchid species, current top picks are Leptoceras menziesii (Hare Orchid), Thelymitra matthewsii (Spiral Sun Orchid) and Calaena major (Large Duck Orchid).
I am excited about working with a passionate team to help conserve the Prom and its values for now and into the future.
Tidal River Water Supply
We are starting work to upgrade the water supply at Tidal River. An initial engineering inspection has been done and we are now planning to define what needs to be done and how. This work may involve replacing one water tank, doing repairs and improvements to another tank and potentially putting up a fence to keep pests away from the tanks.
Whisky Bay has a new toilet!
Visitors to the Prom can look forward to a new toilet at Whisky Bay. The new loo is expected to be open by the end of October (2022).
It was replaced because the vault was impacted by a storm event in March 2021. The new toilet improves accessibility, ventilation and reduces the risks of future damage from storm water.
Above: Junior Ranger tree planting with Friends of the Prom
Stay up to date and involved
Parks Victoria provides regular park updates and information. To stay up to date please register your interest to receive community updates here.
You can also email us at engage@park.vic.gov.au.
To learn more about projects
happening at Wilsons Promontory National Park, please visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects. As projects progress this information will be updated regularly. You can also contact us on 13 196