MEDIA RELEASE  | Friday 17 October 2025

Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor and Pyrenees national parks and other conservation reserves are a step closer to being created after legislation passed the Legislative Assembly (lower house) of the Victorian Parliament late yesterday. 

The new reserves will protect tens of thousands of hectares of habitat, marking a historic milestone for nature, climate and communities. Promised in 2021, the legislation delivers on decades of tireless advocacy from local and statewide conservation groups, who worked hard to keep irreplaceable landscapes and wildlife safe from logging, resource exploitation and neglect. The legislation now needs to be passed by the Legislative Council (upper house) for the parks to be created. 

“These parks will protect hundreds of rare and threatened plants, animals and fungi, including Mt Cole Grevilleas, Brush-tailed Phascogales, Mountain Skinks and Powerful Owls.” said VNPA Executive Director Matt Ruchel. “They’ll be Victoria’s first substantial new national parks in 14 long years. Places that generations of people will come to enjoy.” 

“This is a major milestone for nature and climate resilience. National parks are a globally recognised gold standard for protecting habitats and wildlife.” 

Conservation groups are calling on the Victorian Government to back the parks with funding that reflects their ecological and cultural significance, so future generations can enjoy thriving forests, flowing rivers and incredible wildlife. 

The iconic river red gum forests along the Murray River were created 14 years ago, the last major national parks created in Victoria. To make sure the parks would thrive, the Brumby Labor Government committed $38 million for new rangers, habitat restoration and park infrastructure. 

“It has been standard practice for government to announce funding for new national parks when they’re legislated. It makes complete sense that new areas need new rangers, proper planning and invasive species control to make sure they’re healthy.” said Ruchel. “We want to see a funding commitment for these new parks in central west to make sure they flourish.”  

The legislation fulfills several long-standing government commitments: 

  • Three new national parks: Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor and Pyrenees 
  • Three new conservation parks: Cobaw and Hepburn in central west and Mirboo North in West Gippsland 
  • Wellsford Forest added to Bendigo Regional Park 
  • Wimmera Heritage River expanded 
  • Small addition to Brisbane Ranges National Park 

The legislation does not include the 30+ smaller nature conservation and bushland reserves and regional parks promised as part of protecting nature in central west Victoria. These are expected to be created under different legislation. 

While welcoming the new parks, conservation groups condemned the government’s decision to expand deer hunting under the same legislation, without community consultation. The expansion would see deer hunting introduced to Errinundra and Snowy River national parks and other areas. This is a move that contradicts park management plans and undermines the fundamental purpose of national parks as safe refuges.