Media Releases

Three National Park projects in the Rodney electorate have secured funding for improvements as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s 2011-12 Healthy Parks Healthy People Community Grants Program, MP Paul Weller announced today.

Masters Hut in the Gunbower National Park has been allocated $1500 for restoration works, while two separate projects in the Heathcote-Graytown National Park have received $1100 and $2250 respectively.

“At Gunbower, the funding will be used to restore the original masters landing hut which has great historical significance to the local community,” Mr Weller said.

“Interpretation material and signage will also be installed at the site recognising the significance for the future development of camping grounds.”

Mr Weller said the Whroo Goldfields Conservation Management Network had been allocated $1100 to stage a ‘Walk & Squawk’ biodiversity celebration day in the Heathcote Graytown National Park in collaboration with Birdlife Australia.

“The network has also secured $2250 to operate education days for primary and secondary schools surrounding the Heathcote Graytown National Park,” he said.

“The days will involve community and agency presenters and through engaging educational activities will foster environmental awareness and appreciation.”

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the Healthy Parks Healthy People Community Grants Program brings communities together and allows people to connect with their local environment.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to supporting local communities to take practical environmental action in their parks, reserves and public spaces,” Mr Smith said.

“That’s why, through the Health Parks Healthy People Community Grants Program, the Victorian Government has committed a total of $426,000 to support 155 community projects across the state.

“I congratulate the volunteers and community groups across Victoria who will receive funding as part of this program and who work tirelessly in their communities to improve their local environment,” Mr Smith said.

For further information about the Healthy Parks Healthy People Community Grants Program, please go to http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/get-involved/volunteer/healthy-parks-healthy-people-grants/.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has welcomed a Coalition Government decision to abolish permits for firewood collection on public land.

From 1 September 2011 residents will be able to collect firewood for domestic use without the need to obtain a permit.

Mr Weller said the changes would make firewood collection on public land easier and more affordable, particularly for those living in regional Victoria.

“The new approach will reduce the burden of red tape put in place under the previous Labor Government and make it easier for households to access an annual supply of firewood,” he said.

“We know firewood is an important source of heating for many Victorians during winter and this new policy approach will make sure it continues to be available.”

Mr Weller said residents could continue to collect firewood for domestic use during autumn and spring, between March 1 and June 30 and September 1 and November 30.

He said the government had considered more collection times outside of spring and autumn.

“After carefully weighing the options and taking into account public feedback, the Minister has decided to maintain existing collection times.

“The threat of bushfires over summer and the risk of damaging forest access tracks during wet weather during winter were key factors in the decision to maintain current collection times.”

The Victorian Coalition Government will provide a sustainable and long-term supply of firewood from the river red gum forests to the communities of Barmah and Gunbower, Nationals MP Paul Weller announced today.

The firewood supply will initially be sourced from logging residue and will gradually be replaced by firewood produced through an ecological thinning program.

Mr Weller secured the commitment from Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith this week.

“As we all know, the Labor Government declared both the Barmah and Gunbower state forests a national park during its last term in power, and as a result, the collection of household firewood was to be completely phased out from June 30 this year,” he said.

“The Labor Government made no provision for domestic firewood collection past this date and naturally this greatly angered affected residents in the River Red Gum region.

“I am delighted the Coalition Government has taken immediate action to ensure the very basic needs of these residents are not overlooked and has developed a strategy to ensure their ongoing access to a sustainable supply of domestic firewood.”

Mr Weller said Parks Victoria had opened domestic firewood collection areas on Barmah Island in the proposed Murray River Park on July 1 to supply firewood to the residents of Barmah this winter.

He said the Department of Sustainability and Environment had opened domestic firewood collection areas in the Gunbower State forest to supply Gunbower residents with their winter firewood supply.

Mr Weller said the Minister was also considering a legislative amendment to extend the period available to collect firewood from specified former logging coupes in Barmah and Gunbower National Parks, for domestic and camping use outside the parks, for a further three years.

“In the longer-term, firewood supply will initially be sourced from logging residue in river red gum forests and parks,” he said.

“This source will gradually be replaced with firewood produced by an ecological thinning program in the Murray River Park and logging and thinning residues in the Gunbower, Benwell and Guttram State forests.”

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government’s commitment to a long-term firewood collection strategy would provide enormous relief to many Barmah and Gunbower residents who relied on firewood as the sole source of affordable fuel to heat their homes.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller is continuing the push to secure a long-term strategy for the collection of domestic firewood from the Gunbower and Barmah national parks.

In State Parliament last night Mr Weller sought an update from Environment Minister Ryan Smith as to the Coalition Government’s progress on developing a plan to allow for the continued and sustainable collection of household firewood.

“As we all know, the Labor Government declared both the Barmah and Gunbower state forests a national park during its last term in power,” he said.

“As a result the collection of household firewood is to be completely phased out from June 30 this year.

“In its haste to lock the River Red Gum region up into national parks, the Labor Government made no provision for domestic firewood collection post 2011 – a move which has rightly angered affected residents in the region.”

Mr Weller told Parliament many Barmah and Gunbower residents relied on firewood as the sole source of affordable fuel for the purpose of heating their homes.

He said there was no natural gas supply to either township and the purchase of wood or bottled gas was not an option given the cost could be as much as $70 to $80 per week.

“Exacerbating the uncertainty residents face in accessing firewood post 2011 is the fact that recent flooding has had an immediate impact on the availability of firewood leading up to this winter season.

“Flood waters have limited safe access to the forests and created a situation where most normally available firewood on the ground is wet and not useful for self-collectors.”

Mr Weller said the situation had the potential to force many into a grim position where they would be unable to heat their homes during the coming winter months.

He said the shortage of firewood supply also had the potential to drive prices up which was of serious concern.

“With these issues in mind, I ask the Minister to explain what efforts have been made to develop a plan to deal with the immediate challenge of supplying residents with dry firewood at an affordable price.

“In addition, I ask the Minister to advise what long-term strategy has been developed to allow for the continued and sustainable collection of domestic firewood from the Gunbower and Barmah national parks, post June 30 this year.”

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller is working to secure the reinstatement of the Barmah Forest Advisory Committee to assist in the care and management of the Barmah National Forest.

 

Mr Weller has canvassed the issue with the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith on behalf of the Barmah Forest Cattleman’s Association.

 

He said he had not yet received a formal response from the Minister but was hopeful of a favourable outcome.

 

“Prior to the declaration of the forest as a national park, the Barmah Forest Advisory Committee undertook regular inspections of the forest, utilising a range of scientific measures to assess the fuel load as well as monitoring the health status of the forest and its waterways.

 

“The committee was an extremely important environmental group which played a crucial role in ensuring the ongoing health of the forest and also the safety of nearby communities.

 

“It has carried out invaluable work in the past in ensuring the health of this magnificent forest and, if given the opportunity, would continue to do so into the future.”

 

Mr Weller said the advisory committee consisted of staff from both the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria, as well as representatives from the Barmah Forest Cattlemen’s Association.

 

He said the grassroots representation on the committee ensured strong local input, knowledge and expertise.

 

“Members of the Barmah Cattlemen’s Association have indicated to me that they would again be happy to provide representatives to work on the committee and to assist with studies and inspections.

 

“In my view it would also be advisable to have input from the Country Fire Authority on any future committee to assist in specialist areas such as fuel load assessment and reporting.

 

“I have raised each of these matters in writing with Minister Smith and am hopeful we will have an answer within the next few weeks.”

The battling township of Picola is fighting back after the body blow delivered by the State Government recently, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

The town’s single major employer, the local sawmill, was forced to close its gates when the government banned timber logging from the nearby Barmah Forest, now a proclaimed national park.

 

It could have been the last straw for the town, already hit hard by the effects of the ten year drought on its surrounding rural industries.

 

However, the small but determined Picola and District Improvement Group has taken up the fight – and has now had a positive result.

 

Mr Weller said that he had been pleased to assist the group in its endeavours to develop a street beautification strategy based on the development of a community park on the old railway site in the middle of the town.

 

“The group says the site was originally a very busy place, with stockyards, timber loading facilities, platform and goods shed, station master’s house, turntable and other railway features. Picola was the end of the line and there is a huge amount of history tied up in the site.

 

“The group hopes to bring some of that history back to life while also developing a picturesque stopping place for travellers. It would also include a walking track, a gazebo, public toilets and barbecue facilities,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said the project had struck a hurdle in the price being asked for the land by the current owners, VicTrack, but after talks between the Moira Shire and the rail body, a purchase price had now been decided on.

 

“It is a great outcome, and certainly will give new hope and enthusiasm to the local improvement group, which is headed by an energetic president in Jeanette Holland.

 

“Picola is well situated to cater for visitors travelling around the Murray and nearby forest regions, and this will prove a very worthwhile project. Hopefully it will also serve to bring further prosperity to the town as visitor numbers build,” he said.

 

Mr Weller congratulated the Picola Improvement Group and also the Moira Shire for its pro-active attitude towards ensuring the new park, and the beautification of the town, gets off the ground.

The State Government is already “flying blind” in the management of its newly proclaimed Barmah National Park, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller said that although the legislation first went through parliament in November of last year, there was still no management board in place.

 

“It is so typical of this government. After the initial spin, there always comes a tale of loose management, lack of direction, and no application to the practical aspects of implementing the plan,” he said.

 

Parks Victoria last week confirmed that no management board was yet in place for the Barmah National Park, which was officially proclaimed by state Environment Minister Gavin Jennings last week.

 

Parks Victoria could give no indication of when the management board would be established, who would be on it, how often it would meet and what specific responsibilities it would have.

 

“You would really think that a key part to the successful introduction of a new national park would be to have a highly skilled and competent management board in place,” Mr Weller said.

 

“In any project at all, it is critical that the standards are set right from the word go, and for this to happen, a credible and well respected team should be in place to handle the management.

 

“The Barmah forest has been well cared for and protected by generations of locals with an intimate knowledge of the bush and a love of all it represents. However, they have now been cast aside by this government, which rushes in its grand new ideas based on flawed environmental claims.

 

“It then compounds the problem by failing to have in place a management board to oversee the park from this time forward. They are now effectively flying blind.

 

“It is little wonder that Premier Brumby, Minister Jennings and Co have become somewhat of a standing joke in rural Victoria,” he said.

Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, has slammed the State Government over it’s “two-faced” approach to forest protection.

 

“I have been told, and have seen photos of, large numbers of trees being cut down by Parks Victoria since it has gained full control of our forests,” he said.

 

“Last week we had environment minister Gavin Jennings here to proclaim his new national park, selling it on the basis of protecting the park and red gum forests for generations to come.

 

“At the same time, workers from his department were out with chainsaws cutting a swathe through the very same forests,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the timber had subsequently been left on the forest floor and not put to any productive use.

 

“It is timber that could have been used for furniture production or at the very least for firewood, Instead, it is being left just where it was felled.

 

“It is obvious why they do not want members of the public going into those areas of the parks, and again the photographs show this.

 

“They claim their grand plan is about protecting the parks for the public and saving the trees. But yet the first thing the do is put up no entry signs and begin cutting down the trees.

 

“These photos provide stark proof of the idiocy of this government’s environmental policies.

 

“Timber workers who have for many years selectively culled and made use of the timber, as well as protecting the forest in so many other ways, have now been kicked out and virtually cast on the scrap heap. In total, 44 people involved in timber culling have had their jobs taken away from them.

 

“And then the government’s own workers come and start cutting down the trees themselves and just leaving them on the forest floor. It is a sad and silly state of affairs” Mr Weller said.

 

FOR FURTHER COMMENT: Contact the president of the Barmah Forest Preservation League, Peter Newman, on 0429 68 3283, or the past president of the Barmah Cattlemens’ Association, Kelvin Trickey, on 58 662658. 

Nathalia people made their feelings clearly known when Nationals leader, Peter Ryan, visited the town today.

 

Mr Ryan was guest speaker at a function organised by the local branch of the Nationals, but which ironically fell on the same day as Victorian Environment Minister Gavin Jennings officially proclaimed the new Barmah National Park.

 

Almost 80 people attended the luncheon and cheered loudly as both Mr Ryan, who is the shadow minister for Rural and Regional Development, and Member for Rodney Paul Weller blasted the government for its treatment of rural people.

 

Mr Ryan said the process by which the government had arrived at its decision to declare the former Barmah Forest as a national park had been a “complete sham”.

 

“Ironically, the very body which the government used to arrive at this decision, the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal, is now being wound down by the same government.

 

“In effect, the government is now sacking VCAT, which shows very clearly what a dodgy process this has been right from the word go,” he said.

 

Mr Ryan said that VCAT itself, and any person with a reasonable knowledge of river red gums, knew that it was a lack of water which was causing problems for the trees.

 

“And yet this same government sends billions of litres of water savings back down the North South pipeline to Melbourne, effectively robbing the river red gums it is pretending to save from the water they need.

 

“You people here fought a very sound, well articulated and dignified fight to save the forests from this greedy government, but in the end, the government just wasn’t prepared to listen.

 

“You can leave today with your heads held high, but not so the minister and the Brumby Government, who have been quite deceitful in this process all the way through,” he said.

 

Mr Weller told the large crowd that it was a sad day for the local community.

 

“There is something wrong in Victoria when a government locks up a much treasured forest, wrecks livelihoods and then steals the water the forest and the trees we so desperately need,” he said.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has used the floor of Parliament to slam a planned government opening of the soon-to-be proclaimed Barmah National park.

 

“What is there to celebrate about the loss of 44 jobs, the wrecking of family lifestyles and heritage and the escalation of deadly fire risks?” he asked.

 

Mr Weller said there was a sense of “great disappointment and frustration” felt by himself and thousands of people in the Rodney electorate over the opening ceremony to be held at the Barmah Lakes Picnic area on June 29.

 

The official opening will be carried out by Gavin Jennings, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.

 

But Mr Weller, delivering a Member’s Statement in Parliament on Thursday 24^th June, said that he would not be attending.

 

“As a parliamentary representative of people who have been cast aside by this government and its frighteningly stupid environmental policies, I have no intention of taking part or even being present at the minister’s ego-driven celebrations.

 

“June 29 will be remembered as a black and sad day for the people of northern Victoria – the day a government came to celebrate the destruction of rural jobs and rural lifestyle,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said that the minister had ridden rough-shod over local people, “whose centuries old knowledge of the forests has been completely ignored”.

 

“They (the government) have implemented a strategy which can only lead to disaster for our forests and those who live, love and once worked in them.”

 

Mr Weller expressed grave concerned about the possibility of “devastating” fires because of massive growth in the forests and the fact that cattle were no longer allowed to act as natural control protectors.

 

He was also critical of the government’s record on weed infestation in national parks, and the lack of promised assistance for tourism operators.

 

“We have already seen evidence that the government’s claims about supporting tourism ventures in these areas is nothing more than a sham, with the first call for help from a Barmah–based operator being flatly refused,” Mr Weller said.