Parks Victoria funding (lack of)

[peregrinator]

Among the news items I missed while away recently is the following, regarding the ongoing under-funding of Parks Victoria and the various consequences of that:

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorias-national-parks-in-jeopardy-after-deep-funding-cuts-20151221-glsfv0

I thought this link might have appeared earlier, but I guess I'm not the only one who's been out in a park. One can only hope that the Minister for Blackberries and Rabbits acts on the advice of the VNPA:

http://vnpa.org.au/page/publications/nature-news-hub/our-parks-in-trouble-if-parks-victoria-doesn%E2%80%99t-get-serious-injection-of-funds

[Lophophaps]

Serious matter. Underfunding is always popular in the short term, dollars saved. But in the long term services and the ability to effectively discharge legislative and regulatory responsibilities is diminished. Loved the blackberries and bunnies comment.

[north-north-west]

And this diminished budget is supposed to cover maintenance to the proposed Falls-Hotham track along with everything else . . .

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I was up in The Alpine N.P. on the weekend( Razorback/Mt FT/ Diamantina spur/Dibbin hut/ Swindler's spur/ Mt Loch ) and I saw a lot of bunnies and black berries. The place is going to the dogs or should I say to the bunnies.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I get out and walk a lot and I am seeing bunnies in their legions everywhere I go. Why doesn't the new head honcho of PV admit defeat and appoint an all rabbit administration to take over PV. We would not notice much difference , I dare say!

[Xplora]

The problem with underfunding is that problems get out of hand and then beyond control. The current deer control at Bogong is taking resources but has not to date produced any significant result. They are still on the up hill learning curve. No staff can work weekends when tourist numbers are high because it costs too much and at this time of year they are poached to other areas with fire problems. Money is allocated from different areas so when there is a fire the money for staff can come out of a different pocket. Doesn't matter who is in government Parks will not get much of a look as there is no easy way to determine how much money they generate. Not sure how the $180M health avoidance cost was worked out.