Media releases
Last chance to save Melbourne’s most threatened species
Monday 13 May 2013
Environment groups from across Melbourne's growth areas today called on federal environment minister Tony Burke to apply the full force of national environmental laws to ensure threatened species are protected from urban sprawl.
Recreational fishing not off the hook: report
Tuesday 20 April 2013
A new report shows that despite popular opinion recreational fishing does have an impact on the marine environment and is proving difficult to manage.
Some of Victoria's most popular eating fish are now far more likely to be hooked by a recreational fisher than a commercial operator, a report released today reveals.
Baillieu takes axe to Victoria's red gum national parks - Burke must intervene
Thursday 4 December 2012
In a massive step backwards for protection of Victoria's national parks and threatened species the Baillieu Government will re-introduce logging into Barmah National Park on the Murray River under the guise of 'ecological thinning' trials.
Public ski resort groomed for private sale
Thursday 28 November 2012
Lake Mountain, Melbourne's closest and most affordable alpine resort, will soon be given over to developers in a long‐term lease that effectively privatises public land.
Victoria's Big Fish Count kicks off this weekend
Friday 23 November 2012
Nearly 400 divers and snorkelers will spend the next two weeks finding out if there really are plenty more fish in the sea - by counting them.
From 24 November to 9 December, divers and snorkelers from dive clubs, high schools, community groups and the general public will count fish on 22 reefs from Cape Conran in Victoria's east to Portland in the west.
Ten years on, Victoria can again be a world leader in marine conservation
Friday 16 November 2012
Ten years ago today, Victoria became the first place in the world to establish a network of marine national parks and sanctuaries.
Now, a decade later, government action is needed if the state is to future-proof its unique marine waters.
Parks are for nature not private development
Thursday 23 August 2012
The Baillieu Government's decision today to open up Victoria's national parks to tourism development and private investment sets a dangerous precedent for the state's conservation reserves.
"This is a misguided and dangerous new direction in management of our magnificent network of national parks and reserves," Victorian National Parks Association executive director Matt Ruchel said today.
Protect the laws that protect the places Australians love
Tuesday 14 August 2012
As Federal Parliament resumed today, peak environment groups launched a campaign calling on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to abandon a plan to weaken Australia's system of environmental laws.
The environment groups object to the plan to allow state governments to approve developments that affect the environment without federal oversight. The plan is being driven by demands from the Business Council of Australia and state governments to fast-track development approvals.
No need for prospecting in Victoria's national parks
Wednesday 8 August 2012
There should be no prospecting or fossicking for precious metals in national parks, the Victorian National Parks Association said today.
"The real treasures in our parks are the natural treasures, and they belong to all of us," said VNPA executive director Matt Ruchel.
Prospects for Victoria's national parks increasingly tarnished
Wednesday 20 June 2012
National parks and other high conservation areas should not be opened up to widespread mineral prospecting, the Victorian National Parks Association has warned.
"We oppose any further extension of prospecting in national parks and other areas of conservation significance," VNPA spokesperson Phil Ingamells said today.
Anger at urban growth plans scrapping of bandicoot habitat corridors
Thursday, 14 June 2012
The Baillieu Government's decision to scrap plans for the creation of vital habitat corridors for Victoria's endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot have angered conservation groups.
"Victorian conservation groups are alarmed and angry at the Baillieu Government's decision yesterday to drop a draft plan that would have created up to three bandicoot habitat corridors in Melbourne's rapidly expanding southeast growth corridor," Executive Director of the Victorian National Parks Association Executive Director Matt Ruchel said today.
World environment daze on national green laws
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
On world environment day this year the VNPA joined other national and state-based environment groups to attack plans to hand back federal environmental approvals to state governments through a joint communique.
Government fingers burnt on firewood policy bungle
Thursday, 19 April 2012
The Baillieu Government has finally admitted that a bungle by the Department of Sustainability and environment encouraged the public to break the law under new firewood regulations and yesterday quietly introduced legislation to fix the problem.
Government can no longer ignore cattle polluting Victorian river systems
Monday, 16 April 2012
The Baillieu Government can no longer turn a blind eye to cattle fouling Victorian river systems after a health department report revealed cow faeces are contaminating waterways and posing unacceptable risks to human health, the Victorian National Parks Association has warned.
Statewide call to save our precious wildlife habitats
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
More than 36 national, state, regional and local environment and conservation groups representing thousands of Victorians have called on the Baillieu Government to undertake an extensive and open consultation process in a proposed review of native vegetation rules.
Federal Parliament backs ban on alpine grazing - Victorian Government's grazing trial still flawed
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
The failure of a disallowance motion by the National Party in Federal Parliament today to overturn the federal regulation underlying the ban on cattle grazing in Victoria's alpine region is a victory for commonsense and good environmental decision making.
Baillieu puts cows before Murray River Park and campers
Thursday, 1 March 2012
The Baillieu Government has overturned a decision to protect large areas of the Murray River in new parks, giving the green light to continued cattle grazing in areas originally earmarked for conservation protection and pushing out local campers.
Victorians encouraged to break law in firewood free-for-all
Wednesday, 29 March 2012
An administrative bungle by Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment to allow free firewood collection in State forests could lead to members of the public facing prosecution in the courts, legal advice obtained by the Victorian National Parks Association shows.
Burke decision on alpine cattle grazing a victory for good science and commonsense
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Today's announcement by federal environment minister Tony Burke to ban cattle grazing from the Alpine National Park has been applauded by the Victorian National Parks Association as a victory for commonsense and good science.
The VNPA led the community campaign against the Baillieu Government's deeply flawed decision to reintroduce cattle grazing as part of a nonsensical scientific trial in the Alpine National Park.
Timber plan a shocker for forests and parks
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association and the Wilderness Society have highlighted serious flaws in the State Government's new timber industry action plan, saying it fails to protect native animals, plants and forests.
The VNPA is particularly concerned by proposals for logging in areas once considered off-limits.
True blue and counting: fish count gears up to monitor Victoria's bluest and rarest
Friday, 2 December 2011
This weekend more than 300 divers and snorkellers will plunge into Victoria's spectacular marine environment for the annual Great Victorian Fish Count, which kicks off on Saturday and runs for two weeks.
"This year all things blue will be on the Fish Count radar because sometimes the wonders of the deep blue sea are, well, as blue as that sea," Victorian National Parks Association's Reef Watch co-ordinator Wendy Roberts said today.
Anglesea heathlands should be protected, not handed over to mining giant Alcoa
Tuesday, 22 October 2011
Environment groups have accused the State Government of failing to justify its decision to renew a 50 year lease that will put control of Anglesea's nationally significant heathlands into the hands of mining giant Alcoa.
Firewood free-for-all sets Victorian parks management back decades
Thursday, 27 October 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association today slammed the Baillieu Government for setting national parks protection back decades by allowing firewood collection in River Red Gum national parks along the Murray River.
Landmark decision protects Alpine National Park from cattle grazing
Friday, 21 October 2011
The Federal Government has today made a landmark decision to pass regulations that will protect the Alpine National Park from damaging cattle grazing, introduced by the BaillieuGovernment last year under the guise of scientific research.
Alpine grazing trial produces nothing new
Friday, 14 October 2011
Results released today of last year's controversial alpine cattle grazing trial only prove what a waste of time and money the so-called scientific experiments have been, the Victorian National Parks Association said today.
Victorian marine inquiry ignores almost 90 per cent of coastal waters
Thursday, 13 September 2011
Almost 90 per cent of Victoria's coastal waters have been left out of a new inquiry into threats facing the state's marine environment, the Victorian National Parks Association said today.
"The State Government's new marine investigation is far too narrow and only focuses on 11% of coastal waters already protected in marine reserves," said VNPA Marine and Coastal Project Officer Simon Branigan.
Report offers Victorian river solution on World Rivers Day
Sunday, 25 September 2011
A new report 'Riverside Rescue' launched today on World Rivers Day highlights Victoria's degraded rivers and streams and identifies policy solutions that would help the Baillieu Government repair rivers and improve water quality across Victoria.
Firewood collection a threat to red gum national parks
Wednesday, 22 September 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association is deeply alarmed at a decision by the Baillieu Government to amend the state's national parks legislation to allow firewood collection in red gum national parks along the Murray River.
Baillieu Government burns private firewood suppliers
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Conservation groups have described a Baillieu Government decision to scrap permits needed to collect firewood on public land as environmentally irresponsible and anti-competitive.
Federal Government will put the 'national' into national parks
Thursday, 21 July 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association has welcomed moves by federal environment minister Tony Burke to add Commonwealth protection to Australia's national parks."This will truly put the 'national' into national parks," VNPA spokesman Phil Ingamells said today.
Westernport Bay legislation sets government on collision course with environment and community groups
Thursday, 30 June 2011
New legislation due to be debated in State Parliament today will set the Victorian Government on a collision course with environment and community groups over plans to expand the Port of Hastings in Westernport Bay.
Voluntary water buybacks must continue to save the Murray-Darling
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Victorian environment groups have called on the Federal Government to stick to its election promise to 'bridge the gap' and save the Murray-Darling river system by buying back water entitlements from willing sellers.
Good news for friendliest fish in the sea
The Victorian National Parks Association today welcomed the State Government's decision to protect the eastern and western blue groper from fishing by imposing a 12 month 'no catch' limit.
"The blue groper is known as the friendliest fish in the sea, due to its habit of swimming up to divers to take a closer look," said Marine and Coastal Project Officer Simon Branigan.
Report provides blueprint for Baillieu Government approach to nature conservation
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Victoria's leading nature conservation group has highlighted a key opportunity for the Baillieu Government to demonstrate its policy approach to nature conservation - by supporting the recommendations of a report tabled in Parliament yesterday by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC).
Murray-Darling Basin Authority 'cooks the books' on community consultation
Friday, 20 May 2011
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority's summary of feedback on their controversial guide to the proposed Basin Plan ignores and censors the vast majority of submissions, which support stronger action to revive the ailing river system, environment groups say.
Alpine grazing battle not over till the cows come home - permanently!
Thursday, 7 April 2011
More than 500 people filled the Box Hill Town Hall last night in a strong show of public opposition to the State Government's six-year alpine grazing trial.
'Cattle' romp through Melbourne's heritage icon
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
A herd of four life-sized cow puppets visited Melbourne's heritage icons today, including Parliament House and the Royal Exhibition Building, as environment groups ramped up calls for the Baillieu Government to abandon its six-year cattle grazing trial in the heritage-listed Alpine National Park.
Environment groups applaud federal decision on Alpine grazing: Victoria must remove cattle
Friday, 18 March 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association and The Wilderness Society have welcomed federal environment minister Tony Burke's decision to demand that the Victorian Government refer its trial of cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park for proper assessment under national environment laws.
Tourism facilities in national parks could kill 'golden egg'
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association says a recommendation by the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission to open national parks to private tourism facilities is simplistic and would be a dangerous new direction for park management.
Statement: Misinformation campaign continues on alpine cattle grazing
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Today's claims by the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria regarding a recent visit to the Alpine National Park by federal environment minister Tony Burke, the media and the Victorian National Parks Association highlights the extent to which MCAV will go to mislead the public on alpine cattle grazing.
Government must act to protect Victoria's marine environment, says Auditor-General
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
A report by Victoria's Auditor-General on the management of the state's marine protected areas (MPAs) has highlighted some clear gaps and failings in the way this spectacular underwater world is cared for.
Alpine grazing precedent threatens all parks
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
The Victorian Government's so called 'scientific trial' of cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park could set a precedent that would open the gate for cattle grazing and other damaging activities in national parks around the country, environment and heritage groups have warned.
Alpine cattle discovered trampling endangered frogs and wetlands
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Cattle recently allowed into Victoria's Alpine National Park as a 'scientific trial' are trampling threatened Alpine Tree Frogs and their wetland habitat, says leading alpine ecologist Dr Henrik Wahren.
The Alpine Tree Frog and alpine wetlands are listed as nationally threatened under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Call for federal intervention to halt march of cattle back into the Alpine National Park
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association has written to Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke, calling on him to intervene and stop the march of cattle back into the fragile Alpine National Park.
Legal advice confirms Victorian Alpine grazing plans will need federal approval
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
The Victorian National Parks Association has released legal advice confirming that the Baillieu Government must refer any plans to return cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park to the Federal Government for consideration and approval.
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