Former Victorian park managers have formed a powerful new advocacy group in response to increasing concerns over the state government's neglect and undermining of national parks.
The Victorian Protected Areas Council brings together experienced park managers and rangers who are urging the Allan Government to restore funding for national parks and other protected areas.
"It is ironic that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Victoria's National Parks Act, which created a representative system of protected areas under one management agency that is recognised as one of the world's best. But right now, their very survival is under threat," said VPAC President and former park ranger and manager, Felicity Brooke.
"Protected areas are the cornerstone of nature conservation in Victoria. They protect places that Victorians have visited and loved for generations."
Government agency Parks Victoria has been starved of resources, with its permanent workforce cut by 12% in 2023/24 and many more redundancies since.
Parks Victoria has fewer staff now than when it formed in 1996, despite many more parks and reserves under its protection, increased complexity of marine national parks, joint management and constant recovery from flood, fire and storm. "Is it any wonder that Parks Victoria is struggling to meet the expectations of the community and Government?" said Ms Brooke.
The agency is mired in uncertainty, with vital experience and knowledge leaving, and short-term contracts not being renewed.
"Some lobby groups appear to be having far too much influence over the Government, misleadingly claiming that national parks are 'locked up and left' and are unavailable for recreation. We strongly challenge this misinformation," Ms Brooke said.
"Our members have spent their working lives dedicated to looking after people and parks. We know these places and the many management challenges they face. With over 54 million visits to national and state parks annually, inaccessibility and lack of use is not one of them."
"The Victorian Protected Areas Council's members have more than 1800 years of combined experience in national park and other protected area management and the balancing of conservation and recreation in them."
"VPAC will provide an authoritative on-ground perspective to encourage and promote the effective management of Victoria's national parks, including appropriate recreation, and their strategic expansion to fill gaps in the protected area network, as previously promised by the State government."
"The appointment of a new CEO and Board for Parks Victoria last week is positive news, marking an opportunity for a new beginning for balancing the protection of natural and cultural values and recreation in Victoria's parks and reserves."
"The new CEO and Board possess diverse skills in environmental and cultural heritage management and the Victorian Protected Areas Council (VPAC) looks forward to working with them."
"It is concerning, however, that the Premier's statement announcing the new leadership of Parks Victoria makes six references to recreational access and only two to environmental and one to cultural values. VPAC believes Parks Victoria's new leadership team will need to strive for a better balance between these sometimes-competing objectives."
Recent opinion polling, conducted by Redbridge, showed 84% of Victorians value national parks and 80% support the creation of new national parks. A separate nation-wide survey by Monash University found nearly three quarters of Australians support the establishment of new national parks and only 5% of people oppose them.
However, the Victorian government appears to be listening to a few vocal, minority, lobby groups that are opposed to parks, rather than to the broader community.
VPAC will engage with the state government, protected area management agencies and Traditional Owners around effective management and meeting community expectations.
https://victorianprotectedareascouncil.org
