Victoria is Getting a Climate Change Refuge for Wildlife

 

Parks Victoria has announced a 20 year plan to create Victoria’s largest conservation sanctuary in Wilsons Promontory National Park, with improvements to the 2km Prom Wildlife Walk already underway.

In an effort to respond to the pressures climate change has on these native species and landscapes, Parks Victoria is developing a 50,000-hectare wildlife refuge at Wilsons Prom, known as Prom Sanctuary, to help protect Country and enable more sustainable visitation in the future.

The sanctuary is part of the Victorian government-funded $23 million Wilson’s Prom Revitalisation project and has been developed in collaboration with the Traditional Owners and other groups, including Wilsons Promontory Technical Advisory Group, Museums Victoria, and the CSIRO.

Why does Wilsons Prom need protecting?

As the traditional lands of the Gunaikurnai, Bunurong, and Boonwurrung people, Wilsons Prom is beloved for its rugged coastal terrain and diverse ecosystems, both on land and in the sea. The area has long been popular among recreationists for family-friendly stays at Tidal River, overnight hikes, boating, and snorkelling.

Read more: Diving Wilsons Prom – The Southernmost Part of the Australian Mainland

The national park, located at the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, is the native habitat of over 150 threatened plant and animal species, including the Superb fairy wren, Eastern ground parrot, Australian fur seal, Long-nosed potoroo, and wombat.

Its position close to the Bass Strait naturally buffers Wilsons Prom from the climate extremes of mainland Australia, making it an ideal location to establish a climate and nature refuge for wildlife.

Seals snapped from a Wilsons Prom cruise | Photo by Prom Cruises

How will the refuge work?

An exclusion fence, spanning 10km across the Yanakie Isthmus at the park entrance, will be built to minimise pest species like deer, rabbits, and foxes entering and harming the habitat. 

Parks Victoria’s chief conservation scientist, Dr Mark Norman, said, ‘The fence will become the barrier to the pests, and within the park we’re ramping up control of those pests, control of those weeds, habitat restoration, threatened species support and bringing other special species that are struggling elsewhere into this safe haven’.

A number of species already been lost are hoped to be reintroduced to the park, such as the Eastern bristlebird and Rufous-bellied pademelon. 

Ben Fahey, the manager of ecology and strategy at Parks Victoria, told the Guardian that he acknowledges the predator-proof fence’s design will be ‘leaky’, but creating specific entry points will help rangers target their baiting and culling processes.

Wilsons Promontory | Photo by Prom Cruises

What is the Wilson’s Prom Revitalisation project?

Funded by the Victorian Government, the Wilson’s Prom Revitalisation project pledges to add walks and accommodation options, and improve amenities like the Tidal River visitor centre and accessibility to the park.

The first upgrade, due for completion by the 6th of December 2024, will see the 2km Prom Wildlife Walk receive a resurfaced trail to improve accessibility, new interpretative signage and universal-access parking bays. New bollards will also be constructed to keep vehicles away from vegetation. 

Public access to parts of the park may be restricted throughout the project.  

Feature image by Mark Watson