Victorian Nationals’ Members of Parliament from Northern Victoria have released a submission strongly critical of the Victorian EnvironmentalAssessment Council’s River Red Gum Forests draft report.
The Nationals’ spokesperson for the Environment and Murray River, PeterWalsh, described the draft report as a totally inadequate document undermining the credibility of its authors.
The Nationals’ submission argues the report:· Does not address the impact on local communities· Ignores the concerns of local organisations and individuals who made submissions· Assumes changing the name on the gate from state forest to nationalpark will lead to better conservation outcomes but offers no evidence toback up the claim· Contains unrealistic and ill-conceived recommendations for increased environmental flows· Is based on crude and inappropriate cost benefit analysis.
“VEAC must break out of the mindset that creating more National Parks isthe only way forward to preserve and enhance Victoria’s natural heritage,”Mr Walsh said. “The Nationals support the principle of sustainable multi-use of publicland. There is no reason why the River Red Gum Forests cannot be sustainably managed under a regime which permits forestry, grazing,firewood collection, hunting and camping.
“The report grossly underestimates the costs associated with its recommendations. The unrealistic estimate reflects either VEAC’s ignoranceof the implications of what it has proposed or anticipation that the Government will pursue its usual lock-it-up-and-leave-it approach tomanaging public land.” The Nationals’ submission includes a critique of the cost benefit analysisused by VEAC. Mr Walsh described this analysis is scandalously inadequate.
The submission describes VEAC’s proposal for increases in environmental flows as an unrealistic “ambit claim”. “Surprisingly the report ignores the commitments the Victorian Government has already made to increase environmental flows under the Living MurrayInitiative,” Mr Walsh said. “This is incomprehensible given three of six so called icon sites under the Initiative are in the Red Gum Forest study area. “It is as if VEAC have assumed the Living Murray Initiative will fail to deliver any environmental improvement.
"VEAC’s credibility is on the line over this report. The draft report should be withdrawn and the Government should start again. “The next time round VEAC should time take advice from local people who really do understand the forest, the river and the local environment.” Copies of the submission can be obtained from any Nationals’ Member of Parliament or from our website, www.vic.nationals.org.au Media Contact: Peter Walsh (03) 50323154 or 0428 507 541
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