Wombat Forestcare convenor Gayle Osborne says the community is angered by the failure of the State Government to introduce the bill to create the new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park as promised.

Ms Osborne, pictured below, said members and supporters of Wombat Forestcare had been assured in letters from the Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos and Macedon MP 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. We are devastated that the parks have not been legislated as promised,” she said.

The promised national park would have conserved 24,000 hectares of the Wombat Forest for its amazing animals, plants and fungi and for future generations to enjoy.

“National Parks are the cornerstone of species conservation in Australia and are greatly enjoyed by the general public as places to visit and engage with nature.

“The Wombat Forest provides habitat for so many wonderful creatures including the magnificent greater glider.

“The forest 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. “Powerful owls, listed as vulnerable, successfully breed in the Wombat Forest.

“This is a great indicator of forest health as the owls need a steady supply of food such as ringtail possums to sustain themselves and their chicks. 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 was over five years since the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council released its Central West Investigation report and more than three since the government promised to create three new national parks. The delay in protecting these environmentally important forests is inexplicable, she said.

A state 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.

“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.”

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Sandy Scheltema

I was very concerned when I read the article “Wombat State Park on its way, finally” in The Local (Edition 288, September 11, 2023). The promised park is the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park, not a state park. In 2010 Wombat Forestcare launched a campaign for the Wombat Forest to be protected as a state park.

However, in 2019, the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) recommended that the
Wombat Forest become a combination of national, regional and conservation parks. The Victorian
government has accepted most of the recommendations.

In most of the coupes at Babbington Hill nearly every large log from the wind fallen trees has been salvaged. This is not “every tree removed, beginning with 8000 square metres at Babbington”. However, a 2-acre log landing was created and that did involve the removal of all standing trees.

I have no idea where the information that VEAC set up three storm recovery meetings at Blackwood, Bullarto and Barkstead came from. These meetings were organised by DEECA to inform the public about firewood coupes and other storm recovery works.

It is two years, not 20, since the Victorian government undertook to create the Wombat- Lerderderg National Park. The state government has allocated $4M to survey the boundaries and the work is progressing.

From: Gayle Osborne, Convenor, Wombat Forestcare

(Editor’s Note: This letter has been edited for space. The article was based on information supplied.)
Letters to the editor are always welcome. Email news@tlnews.com.au Any addressed Dear Sir will be deleted. You know why 🙂