Parks Victoria has invited the public to contribute to a new management plan for Wilsons Promontory National Park and its surrounding marine areas.
One of Victoria’s most special places, the Prom National Park is to be developed with Traditional Owners whose ideas and information from visitors, community and stakeholders would outline how it is protected, visited and celebrated for the next 15 years.
As an Aboriginal cultural landscape and dramatic environment brimming with native plants and animals, the Prom National Park is highly popular with visitors due to its mountains, forests, beaches and accommodation drawing hundreds of thousands each year.
According to the Regional Director of Parks Victoria, Kerri Villiers, the Prom landscape is one of Victoria’s truly special places.
“Through this consultation we’ll be discussing how it can be protected, visited and celebrated for future generations,” Ms Villiers said.
“Much loved locally and by visitors far-and-wide, we look forward to discussing the many different challenges, opportunities and views on how to manage this landscape,” she said.
“We’re delighted to be working on this new plan in consultation with the Boonwurrung, Bunurong and Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner groups.”
Ms Villiers said the park was surrounded by a collection of important marine protected areas including the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park which was the first in Australia to receive a Global Ocean Refuge award (now ‘Blue Park Award’) in recognition of its marine biodiversity protection.
She said that together, the landscape provided essential habitat for native plants and animals with a geography that offered climate change refuge as temperatures increase.
“The first stage of community consultation to develop a draft plan will run until 16 July,” Ms Villiers said.
“Across the eight-week stage there will be online and in-person workshops where the community can hear about key management considerations and information about the Prom landscape.”
She said early ideas and feedback are to be gathered, including through an online survey at the Engage Victoria website.
“Later this year, and then into 2024, these early ideas will be refined and then a draft management plan developed for public feedback.”
Further information about the Prom landscape including key issues as well as details on the consultation process and how to be involved, can be accessed at Engage Victoria at this PS News link.
