Firewood free-for-all sets Victorian parks management back decades
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Media release
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.
"The decision to allow a firewood free-for-all in Victoria's red gum parks adds to a growing list of backward steps taken by the Baillieu Government on the environment," VNPA spokesperson Nick Roberts said today.
"No government has ever unpicked national parks protections the way this government is doing. First we had cows in parks, now we've got a firewood free-for-all. The Baillieu Government has no environment policy and we dread to think what they will come up with next."
Changes made to the National Parks Act in Parliament will allow firewood collection to continue in both the Barmah and Gunbower national parks for another four years.
"The Baillieu Government has just abolished firewood permits for state forests across Victoria, a system that had been in place since 1958. Now special places like Barmah National Park will be degraded by another bad policy decision," Mr Roberts said.
"Barmah holds a very special place in Victoria's national parks system, it is the state's first ever Indigenous Co-managed National Park.
"And it's ludicrous to allow firewood collection in Gunbower National Park when the adjoining Gunbower State Forest (11,000ha) was retained for firewood and commercial timber production.
"This decision will have repercussions for animals such as the Tree Goanna and ground-dwelling birds like the Bush Curlew, which need fallen logs and debris for shelter and nesting.
"Uncontrolled firewood collection poses an unacceptable risk to their habitat.
"Victoria's national parks should not be used as cow paddocks or firewood depots."
The VNPA has welcomed a small addition to the protected area estate at Lake Tyers and other minor additions to parks in the legislation tabled this week.
For comment
- Nick Roberts, Red Gum and River Rescue Project Coordinator - 0429 945 429.
