An update on all things Prom this Autumn
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Wilsons Prom Community Newsletter
Autumn 2023
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 has updates on what's happening at the Prom and how to get involved.
Please share it and sign up to the email list here. Stay up to date with community engagement via Engage Victoria.
Discover the Prom this school holidays
Discover the Prom these Easter school holidays
Highlights of the Easter School Holiday Discovery Program include opportunities to:
- Explore the Prom’s rock pools at low tide to discover some of the unique creatures living in the intertidal zone.
- Join Beau Fahnle from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), to learn about the translocation of the critically endangered Eastern Bristlebirds to the Prom and how vital this translocation is for the species’ survival.
- Discover a bug’s world! Join a Ranger to get to know some tiny critters, what they mean to our environment, why we find some and not others and how to look after their home into the future.
- Become an Easter detective in Eggscellent Eggs and uncover some clues to find out about all the egg laying fauna at the Prom.
Bookings can be made online for Junior Rangers (6-12 years with a parent or guardian), or via EventBrite for the general audience.
2023-2024 camping bookings
2023-24 camping bookings released in first week of July
Bookings for camping at the Prom until October 2024 will be released in the first week of July.
As part of the upgraded camping and accommodation booking system, we have removed ballots from the last remaining balloted campgrounds including Tidal River Campground.
With no more balloted booking, campers can now book every bookable campground across Victoria instantly – no more waiting to hear if a ballot application was successful or not. This also means that people can choose the specific site they want (using the campground map) and can book neighbouring sites if they are camping with friends or family groups.
The minimum booking for Tidal River for peak periods will continue to be seven nights, as it was previously in the ballot. We will be monitoring the success of this new approach to bookings and further improvements to the booking system may be considered.
Stay tuned for more information on the exact date in July that bookings for the Prom will be released. The release of Roofed Accommodation bookings will be treated separately to camping and more information will be available soon. All subscribers to this email will be updated and provided with information about how to book.
Storm recovery
As you are aware, the Prom was impacted by several storms in 2021.
Little Oberon Bay is expected to be open soon. The track is now open to Norman Point Lookout, and the steps to Little Oberon Bay are the final piece of work remaining. Subject to on-ground conditions we expect that walkers will be able to use the track in May–June this year.
Sealers Cove track remains closed. Planning and assessments for reconstruction are underway, however the track will not reopen before 2024.
The boardwalk was constructed in the 1970s and even though some sections were replaced and repaired after the 2011 flood, many sections of the boardwalk are now past their life expectancy and approximately 2 kilometres of boardwalk needs replacing.
Access to Sealers Cove is currently available via Refuge Cove (a 25km hike one way from Telegraph Saddle).
Wilsons Prom Revitalisation
Fence update
Design is underway for the fence that will cross the northern part of the Prom to help protect native species and habitats.
In February, we were pleased to be able to announce that GHD Consulting had been appointed to design this exclusion fence for destructive animals like foxes, feral cats and deer.
Read more here: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/news/2023/02/10/00/41/wilsons-prom-sanctuary-one-step-closer
Community engagement
A big thank you to the 1,250 people who visited Engage Victoria website to review the draft Visitor Area designs , and the further 550 who had conversations with us in the park over summer. We heard from visitors far and wide about what they liked or would improve about the draft designs, and what they love about the Prom. A special thanks to those who wrote a song about the Prom in their ‘love-letter’. We are compiling a report based on your feedback.
Read more about Wilsons Prom Revitalisation here.
Walking the walk
Our teams have been busy understanding more about the values (environmental and cultural) at the park as we plan the Wilsons Prom Revitalisation projects. This has included walking and assessing the proposed Telegraph Saddle to Tidal River trail. As this work is completed, the trail alignment is refined to make sure it minimises disturbances as much as possible. To do this, environmental surveys and cultural heritage assessments will continue to be undertaken. The pictures (right) are from a recent descent of the trail and give a glimpse of the breathtaking vistas visitors can look forward to when this part of the project is complete.
Prom Sanctuary
Sun's out, skinks out
Last newsletter, we provided an update on looking for skinks in the park. Success! The project team recorded skinks at Shallow Inlet, including juveniles.
Read more here https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/news/2023/03/09/01/35/sun-is-out-skinks-out
Prom Sanctuary VCE Environmental Science Pilot
Five schools have joined this second year of the Prom Sanctuary VCE Environmental Science pilot which has now expanded to the Year 12 curriculum as well as Year 11. Two of these schools are visiting the park for the first time. The Year 12 program engages students in field data collection, comparing burnt and unburnt Sand Heathland on Lilly Pilly Link Track where they consider the landscape inquiry question: Is fire an adequate strategy to create a better habitat for endangered species at Wilsons Promontory?
The Year 11 program engages students in a rapid habitat health assessment of one or more ecological vegetation classes at the Promontory where they consider “How have past uses impacted the biodiversity of the area?” The program has been developed in partnership with teachers from each participating school who attended a professional learning day at Wilsons Promontory last November and have assisted Parks Victoria staff in identifying alignment between Prom Sanctuary related themes and the requirements of the VCE Environmental Science study design.
Below: year 12 Environmental Science students from Rosehill Secondary College assess biodiversity impacts in a Coast Teatree dominated heathland.
Meet the team
Ben, Manager Ecology and Strategy – Prom Sanctuary
I hold a Master’s degree in Environment and Sustainability, and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.
I have worked in public land conservation for over 15 years and have held various roles specialising in invasive species, conservation program development and operational policy for threat management programs with Parks Victoria.
Favourite place: I love walking down the Tidal River flats late in the day. The rocks, valley and river together just feel to me like a really special place. It is spiritual experience every time.
Favourite animal: The happiest of all birds, the Willie Wagtail! Followed closely by the Flame Robin who provides a welcome burst of colour.
Over the last year, we have worked with an incredible team of conservation professionals, scientists, Traditional Owners and our partners in DEECA to plan for the establishment of Victoria’s largest pest-free climate refuge at the Prom and deliver increased invasive species removal from Wilson Prom in preparation for establishment of the Sanctuary. I am excited about improving the long-term prospects for native flora and fauna at the Prom and can’t wait to see the positive benefits as we gradually remove pest plants and animals from the park. - Ben
Stay up to date and involved
To learn more about what's going on at the Prom, visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects call 13 1963 or email engage@park.vic.gov.au. Register for emails here