Coalition commits to independent environment council and marine inquiry
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Media release
The Victorian National Parks Association and The Wilderness Society today welcomed the Coalition's commitments to retain the independent Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and initiate a new investigation into the marine environment, marine national parks and the state of Victoria's rivers and wetlands.
"Thanks to VEAC, Victoria has the best process in Australia for dealing with public land and natural resource management," said VNPA Executive Director Matt Ruchel.
"VEAC ensures that community consultation is thorough and decisions are scientifically based. The Coalition's promise to initiate new VEAC inquiries on marine national parks, rivers and wetlands is a welcome commitment.
"Even though both the ALP and the Coalition have ruled out new marine parks in the next term of government, undertaking a detailed independent investigation of the threats to the marine environment, and options for its protection, is an important step to ensure an informed debate about the management of our ocean," Mr Ruchel said.
"It's been more than a decade since a comprehensive assessment of our marine and coastal environments and the need for marine national parks has been undertaken, and the time is right for a new independent inquiry to assess the latest science and the many benefits of marine national parks."
While the Coalition has supported local marine boards, it has not supported the independent Victorian Coastal Council, which plays an important role in providing a statewide response to issues.
The environment groups called on the ALP to also commit to the initiation of inquiries on marine and freshwater ecosystems, and for all major parties to deliver more for Victoria's natural environment during the state election campaign.
The Wilderness Society's Victorian Campaigns Manager Gavan McFadzean said VEAC has been a key Victorian institution for 40 years yet there has been uncertainty over the council's future.
"We applaud the commitment now given by both Labor and the Coalition to retain this important institution," he said.
"This is the international year of biodiversity, but going by the policy commitments of Labor and Liberal so far, you wouldn't know it. Neither party has grasped the seriousness of the biodiversity crisis in Victoria and the urgent need to protect ecosystems and habitat for rare and endangered wildlife across land and sea."
For comment
- Matt Ruchel, VNPA Executive Director - 0418 357 813.
- Simon Branigan, VNPA Marine and Coastal Project Officer - 0409 087 278.
- Gavan McFadzean, The Wilderness Society's Victorian Campaigns Manager - 0417 754 023.
A detailed scientific report by leading independent ecologists, commissioned by the VNPA, was released earlier this year. It analysed significant threats to Victoria's marine and coastal environment region by region, identified at least 20 priority areas for further investigation for conservation, and investigated the state's current marine protected area system to identify gaps and make recommendations for improvements and additions. |  |
