The effects of climate change are amongst the greatest threats to the planning area. The threats have strong biophysical and social dimensions and in some cases the societal response to the threat may have a greater impact on biodiversity than the direct impact of the threat. The release of the Climate Change Discussion Paper aims to generate increased knowledge and also a discussion on how park managers and the community could respond to climate change. I encourage you to contribute to that discussion by hitting the 'Discuss' tab on the Climate Change Discussion Paper.

The second meeting of the Alpine Advisory Committee and the Greater Alpine National Parks Advisory Committee was held in Bright on 18 January 2010.  The attached communique details the outcomes of this meeting.

The planning area will be expanded by more than 36 000 ha following the recent passage of legislation to expand the Alpine NP (825 ha addition at Mt Typo), Mount Buffalo NP (two areas totalling 22 ha), Snowy River NP (additions totalling 16 005 ha) and Errinundra NP (additions totalling 12 340 ha) and to create Tara Range Park (7620 ha) south of the Snowy River NP. It is expected that the new park areas will be proclaimed early in 2010 but they will now be considered as part of the planning area.

The planning area now includes over 850,000 hectares:

The first meeting of the Alpine Advisory Committee and the Greater Alpine National Parks Advisory Committee was held in Melbourne on 18 November 2009. This group comprises the same members and is often referred to as the Alpine Advisory Committee. The attached communique details the outcomes of this meeting.

The visitor mapping project was undertaken by University of South Australia and Central Washington State University in collaboration with Parks Victoria to provide public input into the development of the Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan. Over 350 respondents provided information about their experiences and impacts they had observed through an interactive web-based public participatory geographic information system (PPGIS). The project report and map for the PPGIS project are now available. See Park Experiences and Environmental Impacts.

Fire is a natural part of the Victorian and Australian environment and it has had a significant role in determining the mix of biodiversity we currently see in the planning area. Fire has also been used by humans for thousands of years. Victoria has seen a significant increase in fire activity on a landscape scale in the past 7 years, partly as a result of continuing drought cycles linked to climate change, and partly as a result of fuel levels across the environment.

Victoria's alpine country and eastern highlands provide a wide range of visitor experiences – from remote wilderness to developed visitor sites. A Visitor Experience Discussion Paper has now been added to the Knowledge Gallery to invite discussion on the future directions for providing a range of visitor experiences in the Greater Alpine National Parks.

The Wodonga Community Open House was well attended with 41 people attending. Interests included hunting, fishing, bushwalking, four-wheel driving, fire management and general park management.

The local ABC Radio and Border Mail also attended.

Parks Victoria and VRFish have established a formal partnership to facilitate and promote recreational fishing opportunities for all Victorians who visit and enjoy our parks' estate. Parks Victoria has issued a communiqué which encourages and actively supports Victorians and visitors to “Go Fishing” in Victoria.

Recreational Fishing and Park Management agrees that "future management plans for public parks will endeavour to

Community feedback has highlighted the need for a community open house in the Wodonga area. We're pleased to announce a community open house will be held in Wodonga at the senior citizens hall in Havelock St, Wodonga on Wednesday 28th October 2009 from 4-7PM.

All are welcome at the Wodonga open house, so please broadcast this message to interested people. You can drop in at any time between 4PM and 7PM and there will be a facilitated discussion between 5:30 and 6:30.

The Traralgon community open house on 12th October was a great success. Forty-seven people attended and some valuable input was gained.