By Oliver Winn
A 40,000 signature-strong petition opposing the creation of any new national parks in Victoria was tabled to state parliament on 19 February, the largest e-petition in Victorian history for both houses of parliament.
Many proposals to establish new national parks have been put forward to the State Government in recent years, including the 525,000 hectare Great Forest National Park (GFNP) which would include significant portions near Warburton and Healesville.
Shadow Minister for Public Land Management Melina Bath tabled the petition and said it stands up for the rights of those who want to keep accessing Victoria’s state forests for recreational use.
“Our historic petition is a voice for Victorians who cherish our bush and immerse themselves in nature through the traditional outdoor activities of dispersed camping, hunting, four-wheel driving, hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, prospecting and fishing,” Ms Bath said.
The support for the petition grew alongside a series of rallies, protests and online debate, much of which took place on the 22,000 member strong Victorians Against The Great Forest National Park Facebook group.
But Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) park protection and nature campaigner Jordan Crook said it’d be interesting to know how the Liberals and Nationals backing the petition would look after the forests and move forward.
“National parks really encourage exploration and recreation for everyone, not just a small group of people who can afford big cars and guns and the like,” he said.
The GFNP’s proposal includes investment into infrastructure and recreational opportunities such as designated campsites, hunting programs and four-wheel driving tracks, while also protecting the Central Highlands from logging.
In an interview with the Star Mail last year, founder of Victorians Against The Great Forest National Park Facebook group Carly Murphy said the concern was bush users would be restricted by designated areas and potentially having to pay fees.
“The tourism impact this would have for this area would be devastating as these businesses rely on the four-wheel drivers, free campers, hunters, prospectors, motorbike riders and numerous other groups,” she said.
But according to the GFNP proposal, the national park would create approximately 750 jobs, focusing on building the economic strength of regional towns that were once reliant on the timber industry.
The GFNP extends as far out as Eildon, of which the Taungurung people are the Traditional Owners.
The Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) said the Victorian government must put Country and people first when deciding on the future of the Central Highlands, calling for a cultural reserve rather than a national park.
“Cultural reserves allow Country to be managed in a way that is consistent with our knowledge and values as Taungurung people,” TLaWC’s executive manager of biocultural landscape and Taungurung man Matthew Shanks said in an interview with the National Indigenous Times.
According to the GFNP’s website, the proposal is subject to approvals by the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai, Taungurung and Wurunjderi clans.
