Right now, the state government is seeking public feedback on three important things: managing our water and rivers, protecting biodiversity and looking after our River Red Gum National Parks.
The Andrews Government has recently released two important documents for public consultation. The first is the Water for Victoria Discussion Paper, which is intended to set the direction for water policy in Victoria for decades to come. The second is Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2036, which is the government’s plan to halt biodiversity decline in the state. Now is the time to have your say on both these processes.
At the same time, Parks Victoria is developing a management plan for the River Red Gum National Parks in the north of the state and is holding public Open House information sessions to invite input.
So you have the choice of three separate series of community information sessions and the opportunity to make submissions to three different processes! A real consultation bonanza!
To make life easier, we’ll go through each process in turn, but be aware that some of the information sessions for different plans are in the same location on the same day. So check them all out!
Water for Victoria Discussion Paper
This draft water plan is intended to provide strategic direction for the management of Victoria’s water resources for decades to come. It hits the mark in describing the impact that climate change is having on water availability and makes some really useful suggestions for improving urban water management. It also has a ground-breaking chapter on recognising the Aboriginal cultural values of water. Where it falls down is in addressing the impact declining availability and increasing demand for water will have on our rivers and wetlands, and it delays setting aside any new water for environmental purposes until 2019 at the earliest, if at all. Our rivers need better than this if they are to survive the mighty squeeze of climate change on the one side and population growth on the other.
To have your say:
Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2036 Draft Plan
A long-awaited draft Biodiversity strategy, Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2036, has been released for public comment and ideas. It has been almost 20 years since Victoria last developed a biodiversity strategy, and we’re facing a biodiversity crisis. Impacts from global warming on rivers, wetlands and our unique Victorian landscapes ae already making things worse. The need for strong government action to protect, enhance and restore biodiversity has never been greater. The draft plan proposes some good ideas such as landscape-scale conservation and linking fragmented ecosystems, but needs clear actions with long-term government funding if it is to succeed.
To have your say:
River Red Gum Parks Management Plan
Parks Victoria is in the early stages of developing a management plan for more than 220,000 hectares of River Red Gum parks and reserves throughout northern Victoria. These include the magnificent Ramsar listed wetlands at Barmah, Hattah and Gunbower and a multitude of other parks and reserves along the Ovens, Murray and Goulburn rivers.
The most important ingredient for these parks to survive and thrive is water! Red gum forests are flood dependent and without an adequate watering regime they are doomed to die. This is the key message that needs to get through to Parks Vic and the Victorian government in the development of the management plan.
To have your say: