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MP Criticises Park PlanThe State Government should not be extending areas of National Park in Victoria until it provides enough resources to look after existing areas of public land, according to The Nationals Natural Resources Spokesman Peter Hall. By Peter Hall - 15th February 2006 - Back to News Speaking in Parliament last week Mr Hall also suggested that Victoria had enough land locked away in areas of National Parks and future additions should be offset by making more land available for sustainable use.
Mr Hall was responding to government plans to have the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council investigate the Goolengook Forest management block for its potential to be added to the Errinundra National Park.
"One sixth of Victoria now is National Park," Mr Hall told Parliament.
"We in The Nationals say that is the right balance: enough is enough. It is time to stop continually adding to the National Park estate without consideration for economic and social impact.
"If there is going to be an addition of Goolengook to Errinundra, then the government should release an equivalent piece of National Park area and put that back into timber production so there is no nett loss."
Mr Hall has been a staunch advocate for a sustainable hardwood timber industry and has criticized the Bracks Government’s obsession with winning Green preferences at the expense of jobs in rural communities.
"Goolengook is obviously being targeted because it has been the centre of attention for forest protestors," Mr Hall told Parliament.
"Protestors actions that jeopardise the safety and livelihood of timber workers should not be tolerated and it is wrong for the Bracks Government to give into their demands."
Speaking outside Parliament, Mr Hall also called on the Bracks Government to allocate more resources to improve park facilities in regional Victoria.
"Parks Victoria does not have enough resources on the ground to maintain and improve the roads, bridges, picnic facilities and walking trails," Mr Hall said.
"Until the government is prepared to allocate enough resources on the ground to properly manage our existing National Parks it would be ridiculous to even consider adding more areas of land which are too often neglected and become a haven for pest plants and animals."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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