Massive national park could get even bigger

By Farrah Tomazin
State Political Reporter
November 29, 2004
Original post: CLICK

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A proposed new national park in Victoria＇s Otways could be larger than expected after a six-month investigation of the plan.

The State Government yesterday released a series of recommendations for what will become the state＇s sixth-largest national park, extending from Anglesea to Moonlight Head in Victoria＇s south-west.

Premier Steve Bracks first announced the plan in May as part of a broader strategy to protect the Otway Ranges. But in recommendations released yesterday, the Victorian Environmental Association Council called for the new park to be 4000 hectares larger than the 98,205 hectares first proposed.

Environment Minister John Thwaites said that, if approved, the park would be about nine times bigger than the existing national park, combining the Otway National Park, the Angahook-Lorne, Carlisle and Melba Gully state parks with tracts of former state forest. Under the recommendations, the area would also include a 40,000-hectare forest park for recreational use.

Opposition environment spokesman Phil Honeywood said concerns remained over public access to the park and the apparent lack of money to maintain it.

"Until the Government provides a firm commitment for new ranger staff, and weed and vermin control, this park will remain a park in name only," he said.

Victorian National Parks Association director Charlie Sherwin said he supported plans to protect the Otways, but was disappointed that the project did not incorporate the Great Ocean Road. Splitting the project to have a national park on one side, and a forest park on the other made little sense, he said.

"It＇s a bit like mixing Grange Hermitage with cooking sherry to make it go further," Mr Sherwin said.

The Government will decide its stance on the park in the next few months.