The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council recently released an interim report on the "Assessment of the values of state forests in the Central Highlands".

Whilst it is only the interim report, with a final report due in mid-2024, it provides cause for concern regarding public land access for recreational deer hunting.

In the past, the campaign to create a "Great Forest National Park" was effectively a stalking horse to bring about an end to native timber harvesting in the region.

As of 1 January 2024, native timber harvesting has stopped in Victoria; this was previously scheduled to be wound down by 2030. At the time of this announcement, the ADA raised concerns with the government that there could be risks to public land access.

Since the initial drafting of the terms of reference, there has been significant change within the government, including a new Minister for Outdoor Recreation and a new Minister for Environment.

The alignment of the Outdoor Recreation and Environment portfolio is a recognition that users of public land, such as the 50,000 and growing licenced deer hunters, are stakeholders within the Environment portfolio.

Within the report, VEAC has made comments highlighting a fundamental misunderstanding of public land use by recreational deer hunters. It suggests that recreational deer hunting is not compatible with National Parks.

This is opposite to reality, where public land deer hunting occurs in the following National Parks without an issue:

- Lake Eildon NP,

- Mitchell River NP,

- Baw Baw NP,

- Alpine NP,

- Corner Inlet Marine and Coastal Park,

- Avon Wilderness Park and

- Norramunga Marine and Coastal Park.

Concerningly, the interim report nominates 300,000ha of state forest to be turned into a National Park spread across three areas without acknowledging recreational deer hunting as a recreational activity to be undertaken there.

Instead, it suggests a new land tenure, "Forest Park", accommodating "some hunting".

As it stands, the interim report leaves a lot to be desired.

In its current form, the only thing it will achieve is locking out working-class folk from public land.

The ADA has already approached the government on this issue and will continue to prosecute this to right a wrong.

Become a member today and join the fight for public land access!