School of Geography - Theses
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ItemModern Aboriginal land management: a Victorian perspective( 1999)The aim of this research was to find out what land management activities are being undertaken by Aboriginal communities in Victoria and what barriers these communities face in doing so. Six Victorian Aboriginal communities were contacted and representatives were interviewed about the land management activities undertaken by their communities. Those involved were Ballarat, Framlingham, Healesville, Mildura, Orbost and Swan Hill. Information gathered from these interviews revealed a number of patterns in Victorian Aboriginal land management. First, there is a wide range of land management activities undertaken across the State that have been little documented. In this thesis they are described under these headings: conservation and land management activities; cultural heritage management; environmental and cultural tourism and education; and native title. This research has shown that communities that have title to land or are near areas of national park are likely to be more involved in land management than those surrounded by private property. Secondly, it was found that many of the works undertaken also involve an element of cultural heritage management. Finally the research revealed that Aboriginal land management activities in Victoria are likely to involve modem techniques of land management rather than what might be thought of as 'traditional' methods. This thesis also identifies the barriers that communities face in becoming involved in land management. The main causes are financial, lack of access to land and the lack of employment opportunities in the area land management. Most of these barriers are the result of political decisions and institutional arrangements. This thesis has only scratched the surface of this large issue and should be seen as a starting point. It raises many more questions that need to be asked if Aboriginal communities in Victoria are to realise their goals of managing and caring for the land.
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ItemA study of the integration of science and park management in Victoria with reference to scientific mandates for national parks agencies in the United States and Canada( 1999)Managing for competing uses within national parks has become increasingly difficult. Recreation and preservation are two uses for which national park managers must provide, however, to provide for both presents a dilemma. Recreational uses often lead to degradation of a park's natural resources, and therefore, compromises the preservation of the park. How should managers make their decisions? This thesis proposes that managers should formulate their management strategies using a scientific framework of data gathering and monitoring in the decision-making process. Management decisions should be based upon what provides the least amount of degradation to the park's natural resources. True knowledge upon which managers can make their decisions comes from a (1) scientific understanding of the park's ecosystems and (2) the impacts upon those ecosystems. Science provides the necessary information that leads to better knowledge of the parks resources. However, science has not always been incorporated in the management process. This thesis details why science is important and the reasons it has not been thoroughly integrated into the park's management process. It critiques the present-day integration of science in Victorian national park management, as well as Parks Victoria's management strategies. The thesis also examines the history of science and its integration into national park management by Victorian, the United States and Canadian agencies and the current attitude toward the integration of science and national park management within the three agencies. Several key figures in national park management were interviewed, and from these interviews, a story detailing the state of science in national parks developed.
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ItemStakeholders' perceptions of the management of groundwater contamination in Altona, Melbourne: is there a problem?( 1997)The problem of chemical groundwater contamination in Altona has been well documented since 1962 (State Development Committee, 1962). A basalt hosted, upper most aquifer, approximately ten meters from the surface, has been the focus of investigation by the Altona Chemical Complex since the late 1980s. Currently, a contamination plume, containing known carcinogens and mutagens, extends from the Altona Chemical Complex approximately two kilometers to beneath wetlands and residents' homes (GTA, 1996). The existence of such toxic compounds, potentially in contact with biological receptors, warrants investigation into the adequacy of the current management of groundwater contamination in Altona. Interviews were conducted to analyse the perceptions of twenty eight representatives from Altona residents; the petroleum and chemical companies of Altona; the Environment Protection Authority of Victoria; City West Water (water supply company); the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment; environmental assessment and remediation consultancies; environmental pressure groups; Federal, State and local political representatives; academia; banking; and real estate agent stakeholders. Based upon the perceptions of these stakeholders and with reference to supporting literature, this thesis examines the processes of the current management of groundwater contamination with respect to, management effectiveness, management motives, adherence to the precautionary principle, intergenerational equity and compliance to ecologically sustainable development. Analysis of the interviews determined that the management of the groundwater contamination issue was effectively in the hands of the Altona Chemical Complex, with the EPA, albeit with limited resources, facilitating and reviewing works being carried out. The existence of unregistered domestic bores and a lack hydrogeological knowledge indicated that the risk to public health and the ecological environment had not been adequately defined, despite Altona Chemical Complex claims to the contrary (EVS, 1996). In addition, the current management system was found to favour chemical industry management interests as they are the most influential stakeholder. These uncertainties and conflicting motives render the current management strategy inadequate as the precautionary principle was not utilised, intergenerational equity was not safeguarded and ecologically sustainable development was not being practiced. The ramification of the current management of groundwater contamination in Altona is that while action now may appear to be cost effective, the longer term consequences for the Altona Chemical Complex, public health and the ecological environment may not be affordable. iii
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ItemAttitudes to tourism in Victoria's Alpine National Park( 1996)Tourism is the next big issue facing managers, advocates and users of Victoria's Alpine National Park (ANP). While the logging and cattle grazing battles have been largely resolved, the debates over the acceptability of tourism, the appropriateness of a range of tourism activities and the desirability of attracting large numbers of people to the ANP are just beginning. A combination of Victorian government policy promoting greater use of its natural assets, increasing competition for access to the park from recreational users and the emergence of ecotourism as a commercial and consumer activity has resulted in increased pressures to develop the park as a tourist destination. At the same time, however, existing user groups may be at risk of being alienated by tourism activities and fear they will be displaced from the park. The thesis explores the attitudes to tourism of leaders of public and special interest groups who have become involved in the political debate about tourism in the Alpine National Park. It examines whether or not a state of conflict exists with tourism by exploring which user groups feel that tourism is or is not an appropriate ANP activity and which tourism activities are felt to be acceptable. More significantly, it strives to understand the causes of concerns about tourism by examining the similarities and differences in attitudes and ideal roles of the ANP that exist among stakeholders, including the opinion leaders of public and special interest groups, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources management staff and the tourism industry. In doing so, it examines the causes of these attitudinal differences to see if they are driven by identifiable differences towards the role and management of the park, identifiable value clash between user groups or by emotive perceptions that tourism and tourists are simply less appropriate user groups. At the time the study was completed, about half the opinion leaders surveyed expressed some level of opposition to tourism. Suspicion about tourism was evident, however, even among those people who expressed support for it. At its core, leaders of other park user groups fear that increased tourism activity will lead to their expulsion from the ANP. This displacement process could occur overtly, through the granting of exclusive or preferential use territories to tourist operators, or covertly, through a changed park experience that renders the Alps less attractive to non-tourism visitors.
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ItemTechnical change, restructuring and profitability of the Australian clothing industry( 1991)Rapid economic growth has been experienced in most Western countries for at least the last century. However, the nature of the world economy has changed dramatically since the 1950s. The most significant development in the world economy during the past few decades has been the industrialisation in Japan and some Third World countries and their increasing importance in the world trade. The reorganisation of production and spatial division of labour between advanced economies and developing economies has changed the order of the international economy. The global shift of production from developed countries to developing countries was attracted by cheap resources, low-labour costs and cheaper raw material, and performed by active state development policy.