Forest access changes in central, western Victoria as new national parks created

Logging and firewood collection will end in most of three new Victorian national parks, but some recreational activities will continue. Here is what is changing where.

Horse and mountain bike riding will continue in the Wombat State Forest, which will form part of one of three new national parks.

About 50,000ha of State Forests in central and western Victoria will be converted into new national parks, covering the Mount Cole–Pyrenees, Wellsford and the Wombat–Macedon regions.

Victorian Environment Minister yesterday announced timber harvesting, firewood collection, prospecting and hound hunting of deer would come to an end across most of the forest earmarked for inclusion in the new parks.

But the minister also announced a number of other compromises, allowing timber harvesting to continue in 8482ha of the forests up until 2030 in some cases, as well as firewood collection.

She has also made ongoing commitments to allowing four-wheel driving, horse, trail and mountain bike riding to continue as well as apiary sites to remain.

“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,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

The new parks are being created as part of the Government’s response to the 2019 Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s investigation into protecting more forests in the central western region.

The Government has committed to:

BRINGING together the existing Lerderderg State Park and much of the Wombat State Forest to create a new 44,000ha national park between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh

CREATING a 15,000ha Pyrenees National Park, north west of Avoca.

THE existing State Park north of Buangor will be doubled in size to create the new 5282ha Mount Buangor National Park.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE NEW NATIONAL PARKS?

RECREATION

Four-wheel driving, and horse, trail and mountain bike riding will be allowed on designated trails. But no camping of horses overnight.

APIARY SITES

Existing licensed apiary sites to remain.

DEER HUNTING

Seasonal hunting, by stalking, will be allowed in the Pyrenees and Wombat–Lerderderg national parks, in areas where it is currently permitted.

No hound hunting.

Given the proximity of the Wombat–Lerderderg National Park to Melbourne and several townships that are popular with visitors, the season will be limited to the period between May and the start of the spring school holidays.

However the Government will revoke the game sanctuary at Mount Cole State Forest.

PROSPECTING

This will come to an end in the national parks, but be allowed in some regional parks, bushland reserves, state forest and historic reserves, where these activities will not impact on environmental and cultural heritage values.

Recreational prospecting will also be allowed to continue in the expanded Bendigo Regional Park’s Wellsford block and parts of the Wombat–Macedon block.

FIREWOOD

Some areas currently available for domestic firewood collection will be affected by the government response to VEAC’s investigation.

However access will continue in some areas and DELWP expects there will be no long-term impact on supply as it moves to find other sources.

In particular, the following will apply:

The Mount Cole–Pyrenees block retains 11,901ha of state forest for domestic firewood collection, from designated sites.

Firewood collection will be allowed to continue until June 2029 in most the proposed new regional parks in the Wombat–Macedon block and in the Bendigo Regional Park (additions) in the Wellsford block.

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