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 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.”

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.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has made urgent representations to State Premier, John Brumby, over the state of flood protection levee banks in national parks.

 

“With the arrival of floodwaters, I am getting bomb-barded with inquiries from very concerned residents in these areas who can see that levee banks, because of their poor state of repair, may not be able to hold the floodwaters.

 

“I have sent an urgent email to the Premier asking who is directly responsible for the levee banks in the newly declared national parks, and what action is being taken.

 

“People right along the Murray River are becoming increasingly concerned, as numerous problems are already appearing.

 

“We are going to need action, and quick action, as a lot of water is heading our way and we need to be very well prepared.

 

“The levee banks are our first line of defence, and based on what I am hearing from right around the electorate, there are some very real concerns,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said aside from the national parks along the Murray, he was also getting concerned calls about similar problems along the Goulburn River in the Undera area.

Angry landholders with properties adjoining the newly proclaimed Barmah National Park are demanding answers from the State Government, according to Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller.  

 

Mr. Weller attended a meeting of landholders at Nathalia last night to hear a range of concerns over issues stemming from the rushed proclamation of the park.

 

“These issues cover a range of areas including responsibility for levee bank maintenance and access for stock on the gazetted road dividing the park and private land.

 

Fire safety was also a growing concern for the landholders, with questions asked about fire breaks, visitor safety in the event of a major fire.   

 

“These are serious issues which have the capacity to impact significantly on the viability of adjoining rural operations and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency,” he said.

 

The meeting was called by members of Barmah Forest Preservation League, with almost 70 members attending, including two representatives from the Moira Shire and a representative from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.

 

“However, despite an invitation there were no representatives from Parks Victoria present.

 

“These are the people that the landholders were hoping to provide some answers about the issues that are affecting their livelihoods and it was disappointing that they did not attend. There was an assurance given that they would attend the league’s annual meeting to be held next week and I certainly hope that commitment is honoured.

 

“After hearing the seriousness of the landholder concerns, I will be calling on the Minister for the Environment, Gavin Jennings, to instigate immediate action on the issues that have been raised,” Mr. Weller said.

 

He said it was clear that the government had not fully considered the ramifications of the change in status for the park.

 

“It is this lack of understanding which continues to frustrate rural Victorians,” he said.