Lastest News on the Prom Sanctuary

Early Wins Show Promising Progress

The Prom Sanctuary is moving from vision to action, with exciting early results already underway.

People and Parks Foundation and Parks Victoria have reached a significant fundraising milestone: over $400,000 has been raised through generous public and philanthropic support, unlocking matched funds from the Victorian Government’s NatureFund program. This means more than $800,000 is now secured to deliver major restoration projects across Wilsons Promontory’s grasslands, heathlands and offshore islands.

Parks Victoria teams are delivering these on-ground restoration projects, in collaboration with Traditional Owners and leading conservation agencies, laying the foundation for long-term change.

Read more about plans for the Prom Sanctuary

Tackling Threats, Restoring Habitats

Tangible progress is being made in reducing the threats facing native wildlife. More than 1,200 deer have been removed, reducing erosion and closing pathways that allow predators to enter sensitive habitats. Vegetation is already responding, as confirmed by satellite imagery, with regrowth evident.

In the Yanakie Isthmus, an ecological burn has sparked the recovery of native grasslands. Importantly, the endangered Coastal Bitterbush is reclaiming space once dominated by invasive Coastal Teatree – a crucial step in restoring balance to this fragile ecosystem.
Building the Sanctuary

Planning for the sanctuary fence is now complete. Its route has been carefully chosen to minimise cultural and ecological impacts, with wildlife-friendly features such as wombat gates incorporated. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and will be completed by mid-2026. Once built, the fence will create a secure environment for threatened species and help prevent invasive animals from returning.

Science and Monitoring Expanding

Research and monitoring efforts are ramping up. Additional camera traps have been deployed to track deer and key native species, while the science team is developing AI-powered image analysis to efficiently review hundreds of thousands of images.

Exciting early discoveries include:

The first confirmed images in decades of the Lace Monitor (giant goannas up to two metres long).

Regular visits to bait stations by Eastern Pygmy Possums.

Many Long-nosed and Southern Brown Bandicoots, Long-nosed Potoroos, Lewin’s Rail, Rikali (water rat), Dusky Antechinus, and White-footed Dunnarts.

Reptile survey tiles have revealed threatened Swamp Skinks, while Parks staff have safely navigated a newly discovered group of baby Copperhead Snakes. Raised bait platforms are being trialled to better monitor Lace Monitors across the park.
Acoustic recording units are now in place in the northern Prom, listening for the elusive King Quail, Ground Parrots, and a range of native frogs.

Wildlife Recovery in Action

The reintroduction of the Eastern Bristlebird is proving highly successful. Once confined to their release site in the Vereker heathlands, these endangered birds are now spreading beyond their initial range. Predator control zones are being expanded to support the growing population.

Meanwhile, at the Prom Wildlife Walk, volunteers from Friends of the Prom have planted more than 200 trees, creating new habitat that is already being used by koalas. Regular sightings confirm that this restoration work is paying off.
Beneath the Waves

The Prom’s marine environment is also receiving attention. Parks Victoria divers have conducted Rapid Health Assessment surveys across kelp forests, sponge-covered caves, seagrass meadows, and sand plains, providing valuable baseline data to guide the protection of the Prom’s rich underwater ecosystems.

Looking Ahead

These early wins show that the foundations of the Prom Sanctuary are now being laid – invasive pests are being reduced, habitats are regenerating, and wildlife is returning. But this is only the beginning.
To fully realise the vision, a capital fundraising campaign will be launched by People and Parks Foundation and Parks Victoria to raise $25 million by 2030. This campaign will provide the resources needed to establish the Prom as Australia’s largest climate-adapted refuge.
Find out how you can support the Prom Sanctuary today