meelup regional park management committee agenda · 2019-02-19 · city of busselton meeting notice...

Meelup Regional Park Management Committee Agenda

8 September 2015

ALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS FORMATS ON REQUEST

CITY OF BUSSELTON

MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA – 8 SEPTEMBER 2015

TO: THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS NOTICE is given that a meeting of the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee will be held in the the Eagle Bay Hall, Eagle Bay on Tuesday, 8 September 2015, commencing at 4.00pm. The attendance of Committee Members is respectfully requested.

MIKE ARCHER

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

4 September 2015

CITY OF BUSSELTON

AGENDA FOR THE MEELUP REGIONAL PARK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD ON 8 SEPTEMBER 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM NO. SUBJECT PAGE NO.

1. DECLARATION OF OPENING AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF VISITORS................................................... 4

2. ATTENDANCE ............................................................................................................................... 4

Apologies ................................................................................................................................................. 4

Approved Leave of Absence .................................................................................................................... 4

3. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME ................................................................................................................ 4

4. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS ........................................................................................................... 4

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ....................................................................................................... 4

5.1 Minutes of the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee held on 11 August 2015 .......................................................................................................................... 4

6. REPORTS ...................................................................................................................................... 5

6.1 MEELUP REGIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES REPORT ..................................................................... 5

6.2 VISITOR SURVEY MEELUP REGIONAL PARK .......................................................................... 9

7. GENERAL DISCUSSION ITEMS ...................................................................................................... 19

8. NEXT MEETING DATE .................................................................................................................. 19

9. CLOSURE .................................................................................................................................... 19

Meelup Regional Park Management Committee 4 8 September 2015

1. DECLARATION OF OPENING AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF VISITORS

2. ATTENDANCE

Apologies Nil

Approved Leave of Absence Nil

3. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

4. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

5.1 Minutes of the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee held on 11 August 2015

RECOMMENDATION

That the Minutes of the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee Meeting held 11 August 2015 be confirmed as a true and correct record.


6. REPORTS

6.1 MEELUP REGIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES REPORT

SUBJECT INDEX: Committee Meetings STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: Our natural environment is cared for and enhanced for the enjoyment

of the community and visitors. BUSINESS UNIT: Environmental Services ACTIVITY UNIT: Meelup Regional Park REPORTING OFFICER: Manager, Environmental Services - Greg Simpson AUTHORISING OFFICER: Director, Planning and Development Services - Paul Needham VOTING REQUIREMENT: Simple Majority ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A Financial Statement PRÉCIS This report provides an overview of the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee’s projects and activities, as well as a current finance report, for the Committee’s information, discussion and decision where necessary. BACKGROUND A report on current activities undertaken within Meelup Regional Park is provided to the Committee to keep members informed and to assist with the monitoring of progress towards achievement of the current years’ work programme. STATUTORY ENVIRONMENT The Council has appointed a Meelup Regional Park Management Committee in accordance with Section 5.8 of the Local Government Act 1995 to care for, control and manage Meelup Regional Park in accordance with its requirements. RELEVANT PLANS AND POLICIES The park is managed on behalf of the City of Busselton by the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee in accordance with the Meelup Regional Park Management Plan (2010); approved by both the Council and the Minister for Lands. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no specific financial implications identified in this report. A finance statement to indicate current 2015/16 budget revenue/expenditure for Meelup Regional Park is provided as Attachment A. Long-term Financial Plan Implications Nil. STRATEGIC COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES This matter is considered relevant to Key Goal Area 5 ‐ Cared for and Enhanced Environment and Community Objective 5.1 ‐ Our natural environment is cared for and enhanced for the enjoyment of the community and visitors.


RISK ASSESSMENT An assessment of the potential implication of implementing the officer recommendation has been undertaken using the City’s risk assessment framework. The assessment sought to identify ‘downside’ risks only rather than ‘upside’ risks and where the risk, following implementation of controls has been identified, is medium or greater. No such risks were identified. CONSULTATION The activities and work programs undertaken within Meelup Regional Park necessitates consultation with relevant government agencies, community groups and land owners adjoining the Meelup Regional Park on an as required basis. OFFICER COMMENT

1.1 Feral animal control A Request for Quotation was sent to contractors for feral animal control in the park over 2015/16, comprising two rounds of fox baiting (autumn and spring), one round of rabbit baiting (summer), and monitoring pre, during and post baiting periods. Submissions were due 24th August, with the contractor anticipated to be engaged and commence baiting in September. 1.2 Weed control A project brief was sent to contractors for weed control in the park over spring and summer 2015/16. Submissions were due 24th August, with the contractor anticipated to be engaged and commence weed control in September. 1.3 Hooded plover project The City was successful in obtaining funding from the ABEF for an intensive hooded plover monitoring project at beaches across the City of Busselton, in partnership with the Department of Parks and Wildlife. Promotion for the project commenced in mid August, with a volunteer training session on 1st September at the Eagle Bay community hall and training led by Christine Fleay (DPaW). Following this training sessions, volunteers will monitor their registered beach on a fortnightly basis. Management measures will be implemented upon observation of nests, including temporary fencing, signage and/or installation of cameras to monitor the nests/chicks. The data collected as a result of the surveys will be fed into the Birdlife Hooded Plover monitoring online portal, and will be used to get a better picture of the movement, location and number of birds in the area. 1.4 Signage A project brief was sent to contractors for a number of small signage projects in the park, to complete the transition from routed timber signs to the trail marker system. Submissions were due 20th August, with the contractor anticipated to be engaged and commence works in September. Two of the markers will be installed at the trailhead of two planned new trails, which are anticipated to be funded by the Coastwest 2015/16 grant if successful. 1.5 Meelup Mail The spring edition of the Meelup Mail was distributed to the newsletter list and at local outlets at the end of August.


1.6 Meelup Coastal Cleanups Planning has commenced for the 2015/16 program of Meelup Coastal Cleanups, a continuation of the successful ‘adopt-a-beach’ project funded by Coastwest in 2014/15. This includes ordering of clean up kits in preparation for commencement at the start of peak visitor season in November. Tangaroa Blue has been requested to assist with a volunteer training session to launch the project. CONCLUSION This report provides an overview of the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee’s projects and activities, as well as a current finance report, for the Committee’s information, discussion and decision where necessary. OPTIONS The Committee may resolve not to accept the Officers recommendation or may resolve to amend the Officer’s recommendation. TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICER RECOMMENDATION The Officer recommendation will be implemented immediately following a decision to receive this report.

OFFICER RECOMMENDATION

That the Committee receives the Meelup Regional Park activities report.

Meelup Regional Park Management Committee 8 8 September 2015 6.1 Attachment A Financial Statement


6.2 VISITOR SURVEY MEELUP REGIONAL PARK

SUBJECT INDEX: Committee Meetings STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: Our natural environment is cared for and enhanced for the enjoyment

of the community and visitors. BUSINESS UNIT: Environmental Services ACTIVITY UNIT: Meelup Regional Park REPORTING OFFICER: Manager, Environmental Services - Greg Simpson AUTHORISING OFFICER: Director, Planning and Development Services - Paul Needham VOTING REQUIREMENT: Simple Majority ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A Visitor Survey Proposal PRÉCIS Visitor surveys are an important source of information for natural area managers. The report presents a visitor survey proposal and questionnaire for Meelup Regional Park to be undertaken over 2015/2016, as a follow up to the survey conducted in 2010. BACKGROUND Natural areas are an important asset for conservation, recreational, cultural and importantly tourism. Nature based tourism is a rapidly growing industry in Australia and plays an essential role in emphasising understanding, appreciation and conservation of the natural environment, with long-term sustainability as a key underlying concept. Increased visitor numbers that result from nature based tourism can pose a significant threat to natural areas and information on visitor profiles, their activities, perceptions and preferences is essential to making informed decisions on visitor management. Visitor surveys are one means of obtaining information to support decision making to minimise visitor impacts. In 2010 the committee determined that information from social research is a crucial element for management of the park, and consequently implemented a monitoring and surveying program in order to obtain a better understanding of visitors and to help guide future management of the park. The current visitor monitoring program comprises: 1. an annual program of vehicle counts 2. an ongoing program of pedestrian and bike monitoring on trails using trail counters 3. visitor surveying. One visitor survey has previously been carried out in the park in 2010. The survey was carried out utilising two methods – direct survey of visitors in the park by Committee members and volunteers, and an email survey sent to stakeholders and resulted in 155 completed surveys. The results including detailed methodology, results, discussions and recommendations were presented at a Committee meeting in June 2012. It is proposed a follow up survey be undertaken over 2015/16, commencing in December 2015 and completing in December 2016, to capture visitation in both non-peak and peak periods in the park, and to also capture the views of visitors who undertake a diverse range of recreational activities in the park in different seasons. The methodology will again comprise direct surveying of visitors in the park by volunteers, as well as online surveying utilising survey monkey and mailback questionnaires. Compilation and analysis of online reviews is a secondary methodology that will complement direct visitor surveying.


In order to obtain the most useful results some statistical analysis will be required, most likely by an external consultant, as was undertaken in the 2010 survey. Following completion of the proposed 2015/16 survey, a similar report will be presented to the Committee detailing survey findings and recommendations. The visitor survey proposal and questionnaire are provided with this report in Attachment A. STATUTORY ENVIRONMENT The Council has appointed a Meelup Regional Park Management Committee in accordance with Section 5.8 of the Local Government Act 1995 to care for, control and manage Meelup Regional Park in accordance with its requirements. The Committee has delegated authority in accordance with Section 5.16 of the Act to undertake these management activities and a budget allocated by the Council for this purpose. RELEVANT PLANS AND POLICIES The park is managed on behalf of the City of Busselton by the Meelup Regional Park Management Committee in accordance with the Meelup Regional Park Management Plan (2010); approved by both the Council and the Minister for Lands. Results from the visitor survey will provide useful and relevant information to feed into reviews of the plan to ensure visitor perceptions and expectations are appropriately provided for in management provisions. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Financial resources required to implement the visitor survey are minimal, comprising printing costs, the provision of basic stationery for use by volunteers and statistical data analysis. The City has an existing survey monkey subscription that can be utilised for online surveying. The estimated total expenditure of the project is detailed in Attachment A, with approximately $800 estimated for 2015/16, and $3500 in 2016/17. Long-term Financial Plan Implications Nil. STRATEGIC COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES This matter is considered relevant to Key Goal Area 5 ‐ Cared for and Enhanced Environment and Community Objective 5.1 ‐ Our natural environment is cared for and enhanced for the enjoyment of the community and visitors. RISK ASSESSMENT An assessment of the potential implication of not implementing the officer recommendation has been undertaken using the City’s risk assessment framework. The assessment sought to identify ‘downside’ risks only rather than ‘upside’ risks and where the risk, following implementation of controls has been identified, is medium or greater. No such risks were identified. CONSULTATION A draft visitor survey proposal and questionnaire design was provided to the Committee for feedback, and both were discussed by the Committee at concept forums between May and July 2015. Feedback into the visitor survey has been incorporated into the final documents.


OFFICER COMMENT Ongoing monitoring of visitors utilising different methods is an important component of park management. Information obtained from visitor monitoring will help:

1. quantitatively demonstrate the park’s values according to visitor perceptions 2. guide the provision and location of facilities and infrastructure 3. provide estimations of carrying capacities 4. enable the analysis of the contribution of Meelup Regional Park to the local economy 5. provide direction for specific management questions 6. provide information for inclusion in the Meelup Regional Park Management Plan.

It is not uncommon for a gap to exist between the perceptions and preferences of natural area managers and visitors. The results from the visitor survey will help ensure visitor perceptions and expectations are appropriately provided for in management provisions. CONCLUSION A visitor survey undertaken in Meelup Regional Park over 2015/16, as per the visitor survey proposal and questionnaire (Attachment A), will help guide future management of the park and forms an important part of the park’s overall ongoing visitor monitoring program. OPTIONS The Committee may resolve not to accept the Officer’s recommendation or may resolve to amend the Officer’s recommendations. TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICER RECOMMENDATION The Officer recommendation will be implemented immediately following a decision to receive this report, ensuring commencement of the survey proper in December 2015.

OFFICER RECOMMENDATION That the Committee supports the visitor survey proposal and questionnaire (Attachment A) for the 2015/16 Meelup Regional Park visitor survey.

Meelup Regional Park Management Committee

12 8 September 2015

6.2 Attachment A Visitor Survey Proposal


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7. GENERAL DISCUSSION ITEMS

8. NEXT MEETING DATE

13 OCTOBER 2015

9. CLOSURE

meelup regional park management committee agenda · 2019-02-19 · city of busselton meeting notice...

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