for Culture’ ‘Caring heritage, and restrictions placed In for Culture’, Parks ‘Caring on access and use in the parks. SUPPORT FOR THE VISION Victoria acknowledges the importance of protecting More than half (56 per cent) of about my cultural connection ‘What Aboriginal heritage. This involves, survey participants supported to this land?’ in part, further work to monitor the proposed vision for ‘Caring and interpret cultural site, for Culture’. need to keep out of all ‘Parks directing visitors away from Australian Bush and native systems. sensitive places, changing some Constantly putting restrictions on visitor practices, improving visitor Do not support at unacceptable’ information and investigating the all support formal use of appropriate 20% 24% Aboriginal or local names for features, places, roads and tracks, MANAGING THREATS or parks. Slightly TO CULTURAL The post-colonial settlement HERITAGE 8% heritage will continue to be Participants told us that vandalism recognised and respected through is the biggest perceived threat to further information and cultural heritage sites, with 32 per interpretation, and identification cent of responses. This was and protection of priority heritage Neither support followed closely by off-road 4WD Support places and nor oppose 32% and trail biking (25 per cent). 16% A of 25 survey participants Increasing visitor awareness was and 5 submissions provided what can the most commonly perceived feedback on for Culture’. ‘Caring and can’t way to minimise impacts, with 40 be done PARKS KEY TO per cent of responses. This was in public KEY MESSAGES followed by increased penalties CULTURAL SURVIVAL land is for the vision importance of parks for both the to use areas respectfully… Support restrictions only make small rural significant ancient and key to towns suffer more than they do now’ contemporary sites they cultural survival contain. all Acknowledge ACKNOWLEDGING ALL Parks] hold the key ‘[National histories to cultural survival’ HISTORIES AND ACCESS is the #1 There was support for the Vandalism Protection of these was an threat separate strategies in the draft important theme in the plan to acknowledge both pre- supportive responses through – awareness is Visitor and post-colonial timelines. changing patterns of behaviour vital and use, or education rather than However, a common across restrictions. some responses was concern about Participants supportive of the the loss of colonial should be educated on how vision talked about the ‘People (26 per cent).
‘Caring for Culture’ In ‘Caring for Culture’, Parks Victoria acknowledges the importance of protecting Aboriginal heritage. This involves, in part, further work to monitor and interpret cultural site, directing visitors away from sensitive places, changing some SUPPORT FOR THE VISION More than half (56 per cent) of survey participants supported the proposed vision for ‘Caring for Culture’. heritage, and restrictions placed on access and use in the parks. ‘What about my cultural connection to this land?’ ‘Parks need to keep out of all Australian Bush and native systems. Constantly putting restrictions on visitor practices, improving visitor information and investigating the formal use of appropriate Aboriginal or local names for features, places, roads and tracks, or parks. The post-colonial settlement heritage will continue to be recognised and respected through further information and interpretation, and identification and protection of priority heritage places and A of 25 survey participants and 5 submissions provided feedback on ‘Caring for Culture’. KEY MESSAGES Do not support at all 20% Slightly 8% Neither support nor oppose 16% PARKS KEY TO CULTURAL SURVIVAL support 24% Support 32% what can and can’t be done in public land is unacceptable’ MANAGING THREATS TO CULTURAL HERITAGE Participants told us that vandalism is the biggest perceived threat to cultural heritage sites, with 32 per cent of responses. This was followed closely by off-road 4WD and trail biking (25 per cent). Increasing visitor awareness was the most commonly perceived way to minimise impacts, with 40 per cent of responses. This was followed by increased penalties Support for the vision key to cultural survival Acknowledge all histories Vandalism is the #1 threat Visitor awareness is vital Participants supportive of the vision talked about the importance of parks for both the significant ancient and contemporary sites they contain. ‘[National Parks] hold the key to cultural survival’ Protection of these was an important theme in the supportive responses – through changing patterns of behaviour and use, or education rather than restrictions. ‘People should be educated on how to use areas respectfully… restrictions only make small rural towns suffer more than they do now’ ACKNOWLEDGING ALL HISTORIES AND ACCESS There was support for the separate strategies in the draft plan to acknowledge both pre- and post-colonial timelines. However, a common across some responses was concern about the loss of colonial (26 per cent).
RRGMP_Engagement-Report_final.docx