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We Need Your Voice

The Central Highlands hold a unique place in Victoria’s story. Rich rainforests, towering Mountain Ash forests, and diverse wildlife are irreplaceable treasures facing increasing threats.

The Great Forest National Park proposal offers a chance to safeguard this natural wonder for generations to come. Your voice matters!

The Engage Victoria consultation is now open for your feedback, it’s your chance to call for the park.

What is this Consultation

Engage Victoria is the Victorian Government’s online community consultation platform. It provides an accessible way for you to share your views, ideas, and feedback on important projects, policies, and initiatives that shape the future of our state.

Why You Should Participate In The Engage Victoria Survey

  • Your Voice Counts: By engaging in consultations, you help the government understand the diverse perspectives and needs of the community. Your input influences decision-making, ensuring outcomes better reflect the values of Victorians and what nature needs.
  • Shaping Your Community: Participating in consultations like the Central Highlands Forests proposal empowers you to contribute to creating the Great Forest National Park – make sure you include the ask for the park in your response.
  • Building a Better Future: Engage Victoria fosters a transparent and collaborative approach to government. Your ideas and feedback will give us the best chance of getting a new national park in the Central Highlands of Victoria.

How Does Engage Victoria Work for the Central Highlands Forests Proposal

  • Learn: The Engage Victoria website provides background information about the Great Forest National Park proposal and the key issues being considered.
  • Share Your Feedback: You can submit your thoughts and ideas through an online submission form, participate in workshops or discussions, or utilize other available methods.
  • Your Input Shapes the Outcome: The government carefully reviews feedback from the community during the consultation period. This feedback helps guide discussions and decisions on the future of the Central Highlands.

How to Participate

 

Step 1: Visit the Engage Victoria Website

The Overview gives some understanding to what is covered in the consultation regarding the Central Highlands state forests.

To Participate click on the Participate tab.
Click here to go directly to the consultation page

Step 2: Understand the Information

Before submitting feedback, review the provided details of what the consultation is about on the Engage Victoria page. For a rundown of the benefits and considerations of the Great Forest National Park you can read all about the park.
click here to review About the Park

Step 3: Make Your Voice Heard

The Consultation offers two ways to add your recommendations and feedback as part of the public consultation.

  1. A Form Survey that asks questions
  2. A Map Survey that lets you give feedback on a particular region

How to Use the Map

Zoom In

The closer you zoom, the more precise you can be. Find the exact locations of your favourite trails, hidden waterfalls, or special viewpoints. Tip, you can use the search bar to look for your favourite locations such as the “Kalatha Giant Tree Walk”.

Drop a Pin

Click on the map to place a pin. Each pin allows you to submit a comment.

Tell Your Story

  • Why does this place matter to you? Share your experiences.
  • What makes it unique? (specific wildlife, special trees, etc.)
  • Why is conservation important here?
  • Reference the Great Forest National Park proposal as your recommendation

Example

“I’ve hiked the Fern Gully Trail for years. This pocket of old-growth forest is magical! It must be protected for future generations as recommended in the Great Forest National Park proposal.”

Add your Mark on the Map

Why This Matters

Protect Our Endangered Species

The park will create a vital sanctuary for endangered Leadbeater’s Possums, Powerful Owls, and countless other species threatened by habitat loss.

 Combat Climate Change

These ancient forests act as giant carbon stores – protecting them combats climate change and helps ensure a healthy future for all.

 Secure Our Water

Healthy forests act as natural water filters, ensuring clean drinking water for communities.

 Create a Thriving Future

The park will generate sustainable jobs in eco-tourism, recreation, and research, boosting the regional economy.

 Reconciliation Action

The establishment of The Great Forest National Park presents a significant opportunity to facilitate joint-management with First Nations communities, generating economic opportunities and aligning with their aspirations for self-determination.

VEAC Assessment (2024) & Leadbeater's Possum Recovery Plan

The Victorian Government’s “Assessment of the values of state forests in the Central Highlands” (2024) by the VEAC and the Australian Government’s “National Recovery Plan for Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)” (2024) mark a significant moment for the future of Victoria’s iconic Central Highlands forests. These documents represent a genuine effort from the government to take meaningful action on conservation, but holding them accountable for these plans remains crucial.

Why These Documents Matter:

  • Scientific Justification: The VEAC report provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the region’s ecological, social, and cultural values. This scientific foundation strengthens the case for prioritizing conservation.
  • Endangered Species Lifeline: The Leadbeater’s Possum Recovery Plan outlines a clear roadmap to save this critically endangered species. By acknowledging habitat loss as a primary threat (Recovery Plan, pg. 9), it emphasizes the urgency of protection.
  • Recognition of Traditional Owners: Both documents acknowledge the deep connection of Aboriginal communities to the Central Highlands. This is a critical step towards reconciliation and ensuring their voices are heard in future decision-making (VEAC Report, pg. 31)

Read the VEAC Report

Read the Leadbeater’s Possum Recovery Plan

What you need to know

While these documents represent a positive step, the fight for the Central Highlands is far from over.

  • National Park – A Key Recommendation: The Recovery Plan highlights the potential of a national park as a long-term solution for habitat protection (Recovery Plan, pg. 32). Supporters must ensure this recommendation translates into concrete action.
  • Accountability for Commitments: The VEAC report emphasizes the need for a “more localised assessment approach” with ongoing community engagement (VEAC Report, pg. 52). Continued vigilance is necessary to ensure the voices of local communities and environmental groups are heard throughout the decision-making process.

The Recovery Plan also highlights the Traditional Owners right to self determination and the crucial role they have in conservation efforts.

“Wurundjeri, Taungurung and Gunaikurnai welcome a Recovery Plan for the Leadbeater’s possum, and the Threatened Species Strategy generally as taking a necessary step toward halting the decline in biodiversity. Wurundjeri Council, Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, and Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation welcomes an inclusive plan to care for the land, plants, animals and waterways of Wurundjeri, Taungurung and Gunaikurnai Country.”

The VEAC assessment and the Leadbeater’s Possum Recovery Plan offer a glimmer of hope for the Central Highlands. However, translating these plans into reality requires ongoing public pressure and a commitment to holding the government accountable for its promises. This is a critical juncture for the environment and for demonstrating a genuine shift towards a sustainable future for the region.

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about the ecological and economic benefits of The Great Forest National Park proposal, check out the following resources.

Great Forest National Park - Summary Report
December 2015
The Great Forest National Park will be to Melbourne what the Blue Mountains and its national parks are to Sydney. The Park will embrace the city of Melbourne, being a natural amphitheatre of hazy blue mountains to the east of the city. The protection of the Central Highlands’ diverse natural and cultural values will provide long deserved and overdue recognition for the forests right on Melbourne’s doorstep.
Great Forest National Park: economic contribution of park establishment, park management, and visitor expenditure
February 2017
Nous Group (Nous) was engaged by The Wilderness Society to undertake a narrowly scoped analysis,
projecting the additional economic activity generated by the Great Forest National Park (GFNP) through
park establishment, park management and potential additional visitor expenditure.
Great Forest National Park - An Economic Boon
February 2017
The Great Forest National Park would be a huge tourism drawcard, creating hundreds of jobs and adding millions of dollars to the local economy.

Donate

Help support our work in expressing the conservation needs and compelling opportunities that we could address through the establishment of the Great Forest National Park for Victoria.

How to Donate

FAQ

The Great Forest National Park is a large complex proposal, covering environmental impacts and the conservation of wildlife, economic benefits to the area and more. Visit our FAQ for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions
The traditional custodians of this country include the Bunurong (Boon Wurrung), Gunaikurnai, Taungurung (Daung warring) and Wurundjeri indigenous Australians. We acknowledge this land belongs to the sovereign people of the First Nations. This land was stolen from them and their sovereignty was never ceded. This park conservation plan is subject to ongoing discussions and approvals with relevant clans and corporations and fully supports and recognises all their cultural rights, control and access.

Partner

With Us

Businesses can become brand partners for the project by supporting the Great Forest National Park initiative and pushing the proposed park to their audience.
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