Board of Management Update – August and September 2025
The Phillip Island Nature Parks Board met on 19 August virtually and 11 September on Phillip Island (Milawul).
The Board celebrated the contribution of its departing Chair, Kevin Love, who will be retiring from his role on 7 October 2025. As a board member since 2013 and Chair since 2021 Kevin has guided the organisation through periods of challenge and achievement. From navigating the complexities of COVID-19 restrictions to championing key projects such as the completion of the new Penguin Parade Visitor Centre in 2019, Kevin’s dedication and unwavering support for the Nature Parks has been immeasurable.
The Board expect to find out more about the incoming Chair in the coming weeks, and confirmed that the Deputy Chair, Michaela Salvato, will take on the Chair responsibilities for any interim period.
Visitation
The Board noted the strong visitation results to commence the financial year. Visitation for July and August has seen 26 sell out nights as the Nature Parks recorded the strongest winter visitation on record.
The Board was pleased to see a strong increase in visitation at the Koala Conservation Reserve and Churchill Island, which had both grown their visitor experience offerings and been the focus of promotional activity. This growth indicates that visitors to Phillip Island this winter have been staying longer are taking in more than just penguins, which is a positive trend that we hope continues.
Performance for FY25
The Board considered and approved the Nature Parks financial statements and Annual Report 2024-25, which will be presented in Parliament in October prior to public release. We look forward to sharing more information on these results in the coming weeks.
Governance and Risk Management
At each meeting the Board reviews several key risks and organisation policies. At its September meeting the Board considered the Financial Management and Accounting Procedure, financial risks, Conflicts of Interests Procedure and Public Interest Disclosures Procedure. The Board also considered its subcommittee Terms of Reference.
Strategic Plan 2025-35
The Board considered the public feedback to its next strategic plan, which included responses from 44 participants via a survey or through submissions. This followed an extensive consultation process with key stakeholders, including the Nature Parks Community and Environment Advisory Committee and its Reconciliation Advisory Committee. The Board was pleased to confirm that much of the feedback, particularly related to more community engagement, was a key part of the future strategy.
While the Board considered all the feedback, the responses were not always aligned with the Nature Parks role and responsibilities.
The final changes are being considered, and it is expected that the strategy will be released in the coming month.
Penguin Parade Boardwalks and Viewing Stands
The Board received a progress update on the Penguin Parade Boardwalks and Viewing Stands project and considered the planning for Stage 3 of the project, which included the return boardwalk from the outdoor amenities back to the visitor centre. It was pleased to see the tender for this stage of the project progressing, with plans to commence construction in the new year.
Summerland Peninsula Master Plan
The Board received an update on the community consultation program for the Summerland Peninsula Master Plan, which included some consistent feedback regarding the values that our community and stakeholders appreciated about this area. The consultation also reinforced that there are some areas where community views were very different, particularly when it related to the movement of people and traffic around the peninsula.
The Board appreciated the participation of so many individuals within our community and look forward to seeking further feedback once some ‘options’ for the future of the site have been developed.
