Liam McNally
Conservation group Victorian National Parks Association has penned an open letter calling on Premier Jacinta Allan to legislate promised National Parks including the Wombat-Lerderderg and ending native logging in the state’s west.
In June 2021, the Victorian government agreed to create three new national parks in Victoria’s central west – the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park, Mount Buangor National Park and Pyrenees National Park.
Among the more than 60 signatories to the letter is Wombat Forestcare.
Wombat Forestcare convenor Gayle Osborne said it’s critical to immediately legislate the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park to protect wildlife.
“The Wombat Forest provides habitat for a large number of plants and animals that are threatened with extinction,” she said.
“Strong populations of greater gliders are found in our lush gullies and the recently discovered endangered mountain skink inhabits some of the drier areas.”
While the government has decided to end native forest logging in the state’s east from January 1, the letter calls for an end to more than 60,000 hectares in the west open for logging.
Victorian National Parks Association executive director Matt Ruchel said a new premier means a fresh start for protecting Victorian nature.
“Precious habitats and endangered animals are at risk every day we wait for a 2021 commitment to gather more dust,” he said.
“We already live in the most cleared state in Australia. We know what the cost of further inaction is – the irreversible destruction of some of Victoria’s most precious remaining natural habitat.”
Timber harvesting in the state’s east and west operate under two different systems. The west of the state operates under a ‘community forestry’ program via Forest Produce Licences.
According to the state government, community forestry operations are generally small scale, low intensity operations that primarily produce firewood and some high value products such as furniture and musical instruments.
Community forestry operations are able to continue until the licences expire on 30 June 2024 and the government has established an advisory panel to consider where to end harvesting.
A state government spokesperson said work is underway to map out the three future parks.
“We are investing $4 million to help create the new national parks which cover 65,000 hectares – along with seven new and expanded parks and two new conservation parks,“ they said.
The full open letter is available online.
Details: vnpa.org.au/openletter-premierallan/
