1. Rex Brown and Sibylle Noras “Rebuilding a community & tourism business post bushfire through wildlife and flora projects”

2. Wildlife Tourism Australia Conference Adelaide, November 6-9th, 2016 University of South Australia
“Where the Wild Things Grow: leadership, partnerships
and ethics in wildlife tourism”

3. Wye River and Separation Creek on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Iconic road built by WW1 returned services
2 towns with approx. 100 permanent residents / holidays 5000 people
5 million tourist visitors per year on the Great Ocean Road
Surrounded by beauty of Great Otway National Park
1.5 hour drive to 12 Apostles

4. Christmas Day 2015 Bushfire
Destroyed 116 houses, 1000 people evacuated, 2500 hectares forest destroyed, countless wildlife killed or euthanised
No lives lost
Ongoing landslides after largest rainfall in 5 years during spring
Since then significant business impact
Significant tourism impact – 40% reduction in accommodation bookings and shop/hotel income. Represented $300K over 2 week school holidays in September for the 2 towns
Impact on entire Great Ocean Road business over last 9 months in the order of $200million.

6. Multi level government and agency support

7. But sadness about our environment
Fire destruction and 6 months of tree felling, changed look of our environment and impacted community and tourism businesses
Sept-Oct landslides closed road due to unprecedented heavy rainfall

8. The following agencies contributed, some took lead roles.
Colac Otway Shire (COS), COS Mayor and CEO
Dept Water, Environment, Land and Planning (DWELP)
Minister of DWELP, Lisa Neville (now Police Minister)
Southern Otway Landcare Network
Emergency Services Commissioner, Craig Lapsley
Wye River CFA, Wye River Surf Life Saving Club
Vic Roads, Parks Victoria, Police Victoria
Community Resilience Committee, including Flora and Fauna Work Group
SES and Red Cross
Wye River and Sep Creek Progress Association
GROCON
Otway Coast Tourism, Otway Coast Committee
Wye/Sep Vegetation Restoration Committee (WVRC)
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
Lions Club, Men’s Sheds, Lorne Spirit Foundation
Lorne Community Hospital

9. Post Bushfire opportunities for landscape improvement
Invasive weeds wiped out but can be first to return
Once in a generation opportunity to get on top of weeds and improve public and private landscapes for native flora and fauna
A grass roots community “Wye Weed Warriors” group as spring board for multi agency Revegetation Committee
$70,000 funding first year for professional weed removal
Funding for free plants for community
Support from SOLN, Flora, Fauna and Beachscape Work Group, COS and others

10. Community projects....replanting public land with local indigenous plants…weed eradication. People from 7 years to 75 years old taking part.

11. Free local indigenous plants give away to residents for private land
Post bushfire garden landscape program booklet produced by Colac Otway Shire and Vic Govt
Southern Otways Landcare Network free plants giveaways

12. Nest box program
Financial support from govt to get more.
Donated boxes resonated with community. More boxes wanted and agencies stepped in to help make it happen.

13. Nest box program
40 bird boxes donated by Monbulk Men’s Shed soon after fire
Community thrilled and responded by ordering 100 more which local Men’s Sheds in our area are building
BirdLife experts helped with advice about which birds, microbats etc
Funding from government for arborists to put them up on private property as installation has to be done by professionals
Police Minister (previously Minister for Environment) Lisa Neville active supporter

14. Arborists take up role in helping

15. Community project ….feral cat elimination program
Purchased two feral cat traps and doing community education on FB, webpage and handout flyer to explain how to catch cats and humane disposal. Active involvement of Colac Otway Shire and Flora Fauna Beachscape Work group of CRC.

16. Birds a key factor
Bird life has always been key enjoyment for locals and visitors
Wide range of colourful species, including some rare, over 150 species in Otways and along GOR
Diverse landscape and habitat
Idea of a Community Birding Day with ornithologist and bird expert, financial support from Colac Otway Council
Bird Day a major fun and well-being success
Planning more bird and other wildlife events for future

17. Birding Day. Fun and learning for community.

18. Treetops and Sea Zen holiday rental accommodation business
Self contained holiday houses a very significant contributor to local community and tourism economy in our towns
Self contained accommodation the fastest growth sector in tourism accommodation around Australia and GOR
Treetops Holiday House owners have experience running for 20 years. Thousands of guests experienced nature and wildlife of our region. Sadly destroyed in fire.

19. Sea Zen Studio survived bushfire

20. Our Sea Zen tourism business now engaging customers with wildlife and regeneration stories….
s to guest list - stories of veg regrowth, returning wildlife [FB & Blog]
Story of our involvement as business owners in above activities
Personal guest greeting, story of the fire and nature recovery activities
Inviting Sea Zen guests to community wildlife/revegetation events
Actively sharing stories in local media

21. How would your wildlife tourism business be impacted by a catastrophic natural event?
Extreme weather events and bushfires on the increase in our country
Govt support is vital but to be effective must be backed by community involvement, engagement and businesses helping themselves
Thank you. Questions? Sibylle Noras and Rex Brown

22. Thanks to the following agencies for their amazing support in these activities
Colac Otway Shire (COS), COS Mayor and CEO
Dept Water, Environment, Land and Planning (DWELP)
Minister of DWELP, Lisa Neville (now Police Minister)
Southern Otway Landcare Network (SOLN)
Emergency Services Commissioner, Craig Lapsley
Wye River CFA, Wye River Surf Life Saving Club
Vic Roads, Parks Victoria, Police Victoria
Community Resilience Committee, including Flora and Fauna Work Group
SES and Red Cross
Wye River and Sep Creek Progress Association
GROCON
Otway Coast Tourism, Otway Coast Committee
Wye/Sep Vegetation Restoration Committee (WVRC)
Corangamite Catchment Management Authority
Lions Club, Men’s Sheds, Lorne Spirit Foundation
Lorne Community Hospital