The creation of a new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park has been delayed until next year, angering local environmental activists who describe the failure of the state government to legislate the park as a broken promise.
Members and supporters of Wombat Forestcare were assured in letters from the environment minister, Steve Dimopoulos, and local member, Mary-Anne Thomas, that the Bill to create the Wombat-Lerderderg and Mount Buangor National Parks would be introduced to the Victorian Parliament this year. However, Thursday was the last sitting day for the year and the government failed to present the Bill.
Wombat Forestcare convenor, Gayle Osborne, said the group’s members and supporters, together with the Victorian National Parks Association, had campaigned for years for the protection of their unique forest and its inhabitants.
“We are devastated that the parks have not been legislated as promised,” she said.
The promised national park would conserve 24,000 hectares of the Wombat Forest for its vital animals, plants and fungi and for future generations to enjoy.
The forest provides habitat for many endangered creatures including the greater glider and the powerful owl.
It is also home to the critically endangered wombat leafless bossiaea. There are only five known plants in the wild and they are all in the Wombat Forest.
“It is incumbent on the state government to ensure that these and other threatened species are not reduced in numbers in our region,” Ms Osborne said.
“It is now five and a half years since the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council released its Central West Investigation report and three and half years since the government promised to create three new national parks.
“Instead of the legislation being presented to the Victorian Parliament, the Department of the Environment is continuing its program of salvage logging of storm-affected fallen timber.
“We ask how this environmentally destructive activity can occur in a forest that has such important conservation values that it is to be a national park?
“Our community has worked so hard to have the Wombat recognised for its incredible wildlife.
“For more than 14 years Wombat Forestcare has campaigned for ‘Park’ status for our forest, so many people have attended protest events, written letters to politicians and supported the campaign in so many ways.
“The delay to implement the national and other parks is extremely frustrating.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson said legislation to create the first two national parks, Wombat-Lerderderg National Park and Mount Buangor National Park, was expected to be introduced to Parliament in early 2025.
“Existing recreational activities will be able to continue in the new national parks – including hunting, camping, walking dogs, hiking, bush walking, four-wheel driving, BMX and more,” the spokesperson said.
“We want as many Victorians as possible to enjoy the great outdoors with access to a wide range of recreational opportunities, while also making sure we protect what we all love about the bush.”
The government said the legislative process to establish the new national parks required detailed surveying and mapping to prepare park plans, which delineate park boundaries for inclusion in the legislation.
