Conservation organisations concerned over Parks Victoria review announcement

The Victorian National Parks Association has advised that nature conservation groups are questioning the motives behind the Victorian Government's announcement yesterday of a "comprehensive" review of Parks Victoria.

While the climbing community have raised numerous concerns over Parks Victoria’s continued lack of consultation over access to public land, the state government’s order for an independent review of Parks Victoria is now raising concerns from nature organisations about the future of Victoria's popular national parks and reserves, whose integrity is vital for both nature conservation and community wellbeing.

Victorian National Parks Association Executive Director Matt Ruchel said nature conservation groups had serious concerns about the move adding "It's hard to see how major cuts to funding for Parks Victoria combined with an out-of-the-blue review meets community expectations.

"We are deeply concerned this is a trojan horse for dismantling hard-won nature protections."

Victorian National Parks Association highlighted that independent polling released last week reiterated the community's strong support for national parks with results revealing that 80% of Victorians support national parks and back the creation of new national parks.

Ruchel added "National parks and reserves are key in our efforts to protect nature, and the public overwhelmingly supports that. While our precious parks are enjoyed for recreation, they also have the crucial role of protecting nature. This appears to be completely lost in the scope of review.

"Sufficient funding for core management must be central to the review.

"Biodiversity decline is in freefall, and combined with recent failures to come good on enhanced protections, this review only deepens our concern."

While the Victorian Government has repeatedly promised "the largest expansion to our forest reserve system in our state's history" since 2023 including new national parks, this week it failed to legislate new central west national parks in central Victoria, after repeatedly promising to create them by the end of 2024.

Ruchel continued "Nature and wildlife protection must be at the core of our parks and reserves for the benefit of Victorians for generations to come.

"That's not just our view – it's state, national and international law. The Victorian Government is legally and morally obliged to make sure Parks Victoria has the resources to fulfil its duties."

Image. Waterfall Great Otway National Park Credit: Parks Victoria