River Red Gum National Parks a reality

Victoria’s much-loved magnificent River Red Gums along the Murray, Goulburn and Ovens rivers in northern Victoria were protected forever in National Parks in the lead up to Christmas late last year.

After many years of collaborative work between Friends of the Earth, the Victorian National Parks Association, The Wilderness Society, traditional owners and numerous other community groups and individuals, legislation was passed in Victoria’s state parliament creating almost 100,000 hectares of new River Red Gum National Parks from Lake Hume to the South Australian border.

River Red Gum. Photo: David Tatnall

The Victorian Government’s decision to create the River Red Gums national parks followed more than four years of independent investigations and public consultation by the Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC), and will see a significant reduction in environmentally damaging logging and cattle grazing.

The Brumby Government will be remembered well for delivering a notable conservation and Indigenous reconciliation outcome. The Wilderness Society commended community members across Victoria who have supported and successfully campaigned for this great outcome.  Sadly, it must be noted that the Liberal Party chose to abandon the recommendations of the VEAC council and opposed the creation of the parks.

The new national parks will offer much needed protection to one of Victoria’s most endangered ecosystems, home to almost 300 threatened and endangered plants and animals, including the Barking Owl, the Squirrel Glider and the iconic Murray Cod.  Victoria’s Red Gum forests contain some of the last known breeding sites in the state for the nationally threatened Superb Parrot.

Public access, including bird watching, camping, bushwalking, canoeing, boating and horse riding will be maintained and managed appropriately to ensure protection of biodiversity will be prioritised whilst at the same time allowing people to enjoy these magnificent wetland ecosystems.

The Wilderness Society urges the state government to move quickly to establish management plans and resourcing for the new parks to ensure that the wetlands have access to environmental water flows needed to remain healthy.