Labor won’t create 300,000ha national park

Victoria’s Environment Minister has ruled out a new Great Forest National Park, much to the relief of outdoor recreation groups.

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos’ decision puts to end years’ of uncertainty over the creation of the Great Forest National Park.

Outdoor recreation groups have won their battle to stop 300,000ha of Victoria’s Central Highlands state forest being turned into a new Great Forest National Park.

Green groups have long campaigned for the creation of the park, but Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos told delegates at this week’s Electrical Trades Union conference that it would not go ahead.

Field and Game Australia chief executive Lucas Cooke, who attended the conference, said the minister responded to a question from the floor with a very clear response that “there would be no Great Forest National Park.

“There was no ambiguity and it’s nice to hear the government take a clear stance that keeps access for a broad range of user groups.”

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Mr Dimopoulos’ office confirmed his response, when contacted by The Weekly Times, stating “we’ve been very clear that the Great Forest National Park is not and never has been a Government policy.

But the government has been far from clear, given in January last year Mr Dimopoulos “welcomed” a Victorian Environmental Assessment Council interim report into converting about 75 per cent of the region’s 389,725ha of state forest into national parks.

The government responded to VEAC’s recommendation by establishing an Eminent Panel to undertake community engagement on the future of the Central Highlands.

The panel handed its final report to Mr Dimopoulos in October last year, which he has not made public.

This week’s announcement appears to put an end to the uncertainty that sparked a massive public outcry from hunters, campers, 4WD, prospectors and other outdoor recreation groups, who feared being locked out of the largest area of state forest close to Melbourne.

The Victorian National Parks Association and other environmental groups had long campaigned for the GFNP’s creation.

VNPA parks and nature campaigner Jordan Crook has previously stated the park would “protect these unique forests and waterways on Melbourne’s doorstep and improve accessibility and visitor facilities such as picnic and campground opportunities”.

“Inclusion into the national parks estate would mean the forests would have more resources and access to expertise for improved management and increased expertise in invasive species control,” he said.

But the FGA, other hunting groups, prospectors and outdoor recreation groups feared they would be either locked out or forced into designated camp sites, launching petitions that attracted more 40,208 signatures against the park.

Originally published as Labor won’t create 300,000ha national park