AusLeisure

The Victorian Government has created three new national parks in the state's central west in an attempt to protect and preserve some of the region's most precious natural areas. 

Announcing the addition of 65,106 hectares of new national and reserves that aim to protect habitat for rare and threatened species and ensure the region remains a drawcard for recreation and tourism, Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio stated “our parks, reserves and forests help safeguard our unique flora and fauna and provide Victorians with space to enjoy the great outdoors and connect with nature.

“These changes will improve how we manage and care for our precious natural environment, and will ensure these areas can be used for recreation for generations to come.

“We’re listening to the communities that use and care for these areas and balancing the needs of public land users, industry and the environment.”

The new national parks will be created by linking existing state forests, parks and reserves with the  largest of the new designations to bring together Lerderderg State Park and much of the existing Wombat State Forest to create a new national park covering more than 44,000 hectares between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.

A 15,000-hectare Pyrenees National Park will be created north-west of Avoca, and a 5282-hectare Mount Buangor National Park will double the size of the existing State Park north of Buangor.

New conservation parks covering 5246 hectares in areas with a high biodiversity value have also been created to protect precious flora and fauna. A further 7560 hectares are being added to expand existing nature and bushland reserves. Regional parks will be expanded by 27,735 hectares.

The Victorian Government is also investing in facility upgrades throughout the region, including upgrading campgrounds and new and upgraded walking trails and facilities, will continue through the $105.6 million Victoria’s Great Outdoors program.

The new national parks and reserves announced today builds on the 186,000 hectares already protected from timber harvesting announced in November 2019. When logging of native forests ends in 2030 a further 1.8 million hectares of forest will be protected.

This week’s announcement follows years of lobbying by conservation groups and the release of the Victorian Government’s response to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s Central West Investigation Final Report.

Local communities and stakeholders including Traditional Owners were consulted extensively during the investigation.

However, the Bush Users Group United has objected to the move, with co-founder Bill Shulz telling the ABC “there is absolute massive number of people who were against this altogether.”

Claiming activities like recreational shooting, domestic firewood collecting, and prospecting, which were previously permitted in state forests, will be banned in the new national parks, Shulz criticised Minister D’Ambrosio, stating “she does not realise that this is going to be devastating for regional Victorians who suffered enough as it is through bushfires and COVID-19.

"As soon as you bring in a national park, anything that's in the national park is protected - including cats, dogs, pigs, and anything else.”

The Bush Users Group United’s Facebook page has 15,000 member.

Images: Lerderderg State Park (top) and the Mount Buangor National Park (below). Credit: Parks Victoria.

Related Articles

29th April 2021 - Plans for Lake Eildon to offer more as a tourist destination

8th April 2021 - Parks Victoria advise that time is ‘running out’ to save the Alpine National Park

24th November 2020 - Inaugural Victorian Marine and Coastal Awards recognise marine and coastal advocates

19th November 2020 - Victorian Government commits to predator-proof fence at Wilsons Promontory to protect native wildlife

2nd November 2020 - Victorian Government appoints new members to Parks Victoria Board

22nd September 2020 - Falls Creek Resort and Alpine National Park reopen to visitors from regional Victoria

21st September 2020 - Parks Victoria passes 25 year landmark in protecting the Grampians

1st June 2020 - Victorian national parks closed after social distancing breaches

4th May 2020 - Victorian wildlife attractions receive financial lifeline

20th February 2020 - New marketing campaign aims to boost Victorian tourism

17th February 2020 - Parks Victoria collaborates to protect historic huts from bushfires

4th January 2020 - Bushfire crisis sees Victorian alpine resorts among areas declared state of disaster

5th July 2019 - Great Otways National Park benefits from facility upgrades

13th November 2018 - Man convicted for habitat destruction in Victorian conservation reserve

18th September 2018 - New Parks Victoria Act looks to strengthen park management

12th December 2017 - Parks Victoria to employ 53 new Rangers

9th August 2017 - Australia’s great outdoors needs to be more accessible for nature-based tourism

26th December 2016 - Parks Victoria plan proposes luxury accommodation on Falls Creek to Hotham Alpine Crossing trail

23rd March 2015 - Victorian Government moves to protect Alpine National Park

30th December 2014 - Victorian Government scraps grazing trials in Alpine National Park

1st August 2012 - New appointments for Parks Victoria board

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.