34,000 Victorians Petition Against Expanding National Park Coverage That Limit Recreation

An undated video screenshot of a person scaling a rock face on Mount Arapiles, Victoria in Australia. AAP Image/Mark Tadic

A group of Melbourne residents has urged the Allan Labor government to halt plans for new national parks, citing concerns over access restrictions and environmental risks.

The petition, already signed by more than 34,000 residents, has been lodged with Victoria’s Legislative Council. It highlights opposition to proposed parks in the Central Highlands and Gippsland regions, arguing that such measures disregard the interests of bush user groups.

These groups, which include recreational campers, four-wheel drivers, and hunters, assert that their activities contribute to regional economies and environmental stewardship.

The petition, circulated through social media, argues that locking up public forests increases the risk of bushfires due to neglected land management, which leads to overgrown tracks, invasive weeds, and feral pests that threaten native species.

In 2021, the Victorian Labor government announced plans to create three national parks, two conservation parks, and several expanded regional parks in the central west, including the 44,000-hectare Wombat-Lerderderg National Park.

According to a government release, the parks aim to protect threatened species while maintaining recreational access.

Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan speaks during a Cricket Australia Media Opportunity at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 18, 2024. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images for Cricket Australia

However, petitioners claim these measures limit public access and traditional land use.

National Parks Body Pushes for More Action

Meanwhile, another group wants the government to accelerate the reforms.

Despite the government’s 2021 commitment to establishing these parks, legislation to formalise them remains stalled.

A view of the Murray River at Wentworth along the border of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia on Feb. 21, 2007.
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) expressed frustration over the failure to introduce legislation during the final parliamentary sitting week.

“As wildlife and habitats continue their rapid decline, our elected leaders are stuck in slow motion,” said VNPA Executive Director Matt Ruchel. “It’s now been 41 months since these parks were agreed upon, and still nothing.”

The parks law was originally approved by the Andrews government following a three-year investigation by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council.

An independent poll released in October 2024 by the Victorian National Parks Association and the Wilderness Society found that 80 percent of Victorians support new national parks, regardless of income, voting preference, or location.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Victorian government for comment.