Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  55
Division/Agency:	Parks Australia Division
Topic:	Organisational reviews in Kakadu and Uluru National Parks
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Carr asked:
(a)	What stage are the organisational reviews in relation to Kakadu and Uluru National Parks reviews up to?
(b)	How are staff being consulted and involved in the review processes?
(c)	Is it expected that these reviews will result in changes to the number of Ranger positions in the parks? 
(d)	What assurance can the Department give staff and the public that the safety and environmental integrity of Uluru and Kakadu will be upheld? 

Answer/s:
Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park
(a)	At Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park the Organisational Review Steering Committee (ORSC) has been established and is composed of eight members from throughout the Park structure including the CPSU staff representative. There is a draft Terms of Reference, an internal communication strategy, and an external consultation strategy that will be implemented when the review gets underway.

(b)	Staff consultation mechanisms have been established, and consultation with staff will be on-going throughout the review process. The consultants that will conduct the review will instructed to speak to all park staff and produce a draft report for consideration prior to the final report being completed.

(c)	The Review will take into account the overall numbers of staff and skills needed to implement the Management Plans, as well as work level standards, expected increases in visitor numbers and environmental issues into the future. All of these factors will be taken account by Park Management in considering the final staff structure.

(d)	Visitor safety and the natural and cultural integrity of the park are high priorities for the Board of Management, Park Management and the Director of National Parks. Resource levels will be maintained to implement the Management Plan and other statutory obligations. 

Kakadu National Park

(a)	A consultant was engaged in November 2005, and Stage 1 of the Review has been completed.

(b)	The consultant has conducted a number of face to face meetings with individuals and staff from the various work units across Kakadu. The consultant met with staff prior to Christmas, in early January and early February seeking comments for inclusion in the draft report (Stage 1). The report submitted late February has been distributed to all staff and considered in detail by the Project Working Group (consisting 8 staff members). Staff are being kept informed via email with updates on a regular basis.

(c)	The Review is taking into account the overall numbers of staff and skills needed to implement the Management Plans, as well as work level standards, expected increases in visitor numbers and environmental issues into the future. All of these factors will be taken account by Park Management in considering the final staff structure.

(d)	Visitor safety and the natural and cultural integrity of the park are high priorities for the Board of Management, Park Management and the Director of National Parks. Resource levels will be maintained to implement the Management Plan and other statutory obligations.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  56
Division/Agency:	Parks Australia Division
Sub Outcome:	Conservation and appreciation of Commonwealth reserves
Topic:	Review of Kakadu and Uluru National Parks
Hansard Page ECITA:	93

Senator Carr asked:
What is the form of consultation with staff?

Answer/s:
Please refer to the response to Question No 55.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  57
Division/Agency:	Parks Australia Division
Sub Outcome:	Conservation and appreciation of Commonwealth reserves
Topic:	Environmental rehabilitation on Christmas Island
Hansard Page ECITA:	94

Senator Siewert asked:
(a)	How much have you managed to rehabilitate?

(b)	I am also interested  in the type of rehabilitation that is occurring. What sort of species are going back? What percentage of the original vegetation is included in that suite?

Answer/s:
(a)	239 hectares have been rehabilitated by Parks Australia since the Christmas Island Rainforest Rehabilitation Program (CIRRP) began. 150 hectares were rehabilitated under various programmes prior to CIRRP. Of the total of 389 ha, 229 (59%) are expected to progress to original rainforest. Of the remaining 160 ha some 140 require further inputs to progress to forest, and 20 ha have failed. The current programme is designed to rehabilitate approximately 20 ha per annum.

(b)	In the initial phase of rehabilitation Parks Australia plants about 14 native tree species, mainly pioneer and early secondary species. About 2 years on we plant another 8 late secondary and tertiary native tree species, bringing the total to 22 native tree species. These are the same as the approximately 22 species found in the surrounding forest today. We assume that the species composition was similar prior to the clearing many years ago.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  58
Division/Agency:	Parks Australia Division
Sub Outcome:	Conservation and appreciation of Commonwealth reserves
Topic:	Environmental rehabilitation on Christmas Island
Hansard Page ECITA:	94

Senator Siewert asked:
So do you provide a regular report on that?

Answer/s:
Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Territories and Regional Services requires an annual report on the Christmas Island Rainforest Rehabilitation Programme. The attached report covers the period from February 2004 (when the MoU was signed) to June 2005. The next report is due in June 2006.