THE FUTURE OF HUNTING & WETLAND CONSERVATION BY HUNTERS, ACCESS FOR FISHING, SUSTAINABLE TIMBER HARVESTING, CAMPING, CATTLE GRAZING, AGRICULTURE IS UNDER SERIOUS THREAT
RIVER RED GUM INVESTIGATION – DRAFT PROPOSALS
FROM THE VICTORIAN ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT COUNCIL
| 23 STATE GAME RESERVES AND 12,205 ha OF STATE FOREST
CLOSED TO HUNTERS & OTHER RECREATIONAL USERS |
On the 19th July 2007, the Victorian Environment Assessment Council (VEAC) released its draft proposals paper for the River Red Gum Forest Investigation.
The paper recommends the creation of 5 new National Parks in Northern Victoria. Barmah National Park, Gunbower National Park, Lower Goulburn River National Park, Warby Range – Ovens River National Park, Leaghur – Koorangie National Park and Murray River Park and an extension to the Murray Sunset National Park.
Thousands of hectares of State Forest along the Ovens, Murray, Goulburn and Avoca Rivers will no longer be available to hunters and other recreational users.
The following lists just some of the areas where hunting, camping or even walking your dog will no longer be allowed;
Vinifera Forest, Lake Leaghur, Lake Elizabeth, Lake Wandella, Lake Merran, Mystic Park Forest, Johnsons Swamp, Barmah Forest, Tang Tang Swamp, Red Gum Swamp (Gannawarra), Dingee Swamp, Thunder Swamp, Loch Garry Kanyapella Basin, Wallenjoe (Corop), Reedy Swamp (Shepparton), Koorangie (includes Bael Bael and The Marshes) & a large part of Gunbower Forest
VEAC RECOMMENDATIONS:
Environmental Water -
One of the major recommendations is for a 4,000 gigalitre over-bank flood event every five years. Whilst FGA supports increased environmental flows, the report is not clear on three major factors. 1. Where the water will come from, 2. Where the water will be stored and 3. Who will pay for the water, between $5-10 billion.
The amount of water proposed is greater than the total capacity of Eildon Dam in Victoria.
VEAC State “The regional impacts of diverting 2,000 or 4,000 GL every five or so years for environmental flows would be substantial in terms of irrigated agriculture and horticulture but the quantification of these effects was beyond the scope of this study.”
Greater Indigenous Involvement -
The report recommends resourcing and capacity building to support increased involvement of traditional owner groups in public land management and decision making.
Traditional cultural practice is viewed as one of the key ways that aboriginals may keep their culture alive and teach younger generations. Whilst FGA have always and will continue to support indigenous involvement and recognition of their cultural traditions, we do not support exclusive access or rights for any specific group of
people, to use public land.
VEAC recommends that:
“Policies and legislative restrictions inhibiting traditional cultural practice on specified areas of public lands and water be amended to provide for aboriginal traditional owners to undertake the following activities for personal, domestic, and non commercial communal use”
- hunt (including using firearms), gather collect and fish, collect earth materials, and
- conduct a cultural or spiritual ceremony, including (if required) having exclusive use of specified areas for a specified time.
Other Impacts -
VEAC state the following in their draft proposals:
"At an individual level there are also a range of potential impacts of the loss of employment for individuals and their families including poverty and financial hardship, strains in family relationships, and intergenerational welfare dependency". Source: VEAC Draft Proposals page 85.
TIMBER INDUSTRY
40% percent reduction from current harvestable area - from 25,105 ha to 10,105 ha
Direct full-time equivalent jobs predicted to decrease from 96 to 19
GRAZING
Around 1800 licenses and permits cancelled
14 to 17 (full-time equivalent) jobs lost
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MAKE A DONATION -
FGA has started a Fighting Fund for this campaign. If you would like to assist our efforts please Click Here... to donate now. All donations will be greatly appreciated and a receipt will be issued. Thank You. |
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