Key Facts:
- The Victorian National Parks Association has launched ads urging Premier Jacinta Allan to fulfil Labor's 2021 promise to create new national parks covering 60,000 hectares
- The proposed parks would protect hundreds of threatened wildlife, including Mt Cole Grevilleas, Brush-tailed Phascogales, Mountain Skinks and Powerful Owls
- The parks package includes three national parks (Wombat-Lerderderg, Mt Buangor-Mt Cole, Pyrenees), conservation parks, and various reserves
The Victorian National Parks Association has launched full-page print ads in Bendigo and Ballarat calling on Premier Jacinta Allan to honour Labor's four-yar-old commitment to create new national parks in the area. Critical for giving threatened wildlife landscape connection and permanent protection from exploitative uses, like commercial mining and logging the new parks will also provide economic benefits and recreational opportunities for local communities and visitors in central Victoria.
The targeted campaign highlights the large amount of threatened animals, plants and fungi, including Mt Cole Grevilleas, Brush-tailed Phascogales, Mountain Skinks and Powerful Owls, that remain without the landscape-scale protection Labor promised in June 2021.
'Four years of broken promises is four years too long,' said Matt Ruchel, Executive Director of the Victorian National Parks Association. 'Every day we delay means more opportunities missed to protect wildlife and habitats and to look after nature for future generations.'
The ads outline the clear community benefits of the new parks, which would protect approximately 60,000 hectares in Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor and Pyrenees national parks, Cobaw Conservation Park, Wellsford Forest and the other parks and reserves.
The new parks will protect the headwaters of six major rivers, providing clean water for communities, boost nature-based tourism with long-term local economic benefits and provide safe recreation opportunities, including bushwalking, picnicking, camping, birding, mountain biking, four-wheel driving, trail bike riding and more. 'These parks will safeguard our most precious wildlife – for instance just this winter, locals were thrilled to see huge numbers of Critically Endangered Swift Parrots in the area. Independent experts specifically recommended higher protections for our Box Ironbarks, as an outstanding example of remnant forest,' said Wendy Radford from Bendigo and District Environment Council.
'Our community has worked hard to have the Wombat Forest recognised for its incredible wildlife. The failure by the Allen government to legislate the promised national and other parks shows a complete disregard for protection of the natural environment,' said Gayle Osborne from Wombat Forestcare.
VNPA and local nature groups are calling on Premier Allan to immediately introduce legislation to create the central west parks.
'We're not asking for anything new – we're simply demanding the Premier honour the promises her party made to the Victorian people,' Ruchel said. 'Over 80 per cent of Victorians support new national parks – nature and community have waited long enough'.
Background information Media images: Central west media photos
The parks package: New central west parks were committed to in June 2021 following a three-year investigation by the Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC). The 60,000 hectare package includes:
- Three national parks: Wombat-Lerderderg (Daylesford area), Mt Buangor-Mt Cole (Beaufort area), Pyrenees (Avoca area)
- Two conservation parks: Cobaw (near Kyneton), Hepburn (near Daylesford)
- Seven regional parks (with a recreation focus – around Bendigo and Daylesford)
- 11 nature conservation reserves and 18 bushland reserves
- Heritage River addition at Mt Cole (Wimmera River headwaters)
Economics: Independent economic assessments consistently reveal investing in new national parks creates strong economic returns for local communities.
Public Support: Polling consistently shows Victorians support new national parks.
About us:
Victorian National Parks Association have led the creation, protection and defence of Victoria's natural estate for over 70 years.
We advocate for evidence-based policy to safeguard wildlife, habitat and protected areas. We inspire connections with nature through citizen science, activities, community action and education.
We are an independent, non-government, for purpose and membership-based charity.
