The Allan Labor Government want more people to get out and explore the great outdoors, with the opening of consultation by the Great Outdoors Taskforce.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos visited Coopers Creek Campground in Gippsland to announce that Victorians can share their ideas for the future of our forests with the Great Outdoors Taskforce consultation.
The Labor Government established the Great Outdoors Taskforce earlier this year, to consult with the Victorian community and provide recommendations to government on the management of state forests in Gippsland, East Gippsland and the North East.
This is a landmark opportunity to open up 1.8 million hectares of Victoria's native forests that were formerly used for native timber harvesting, with new opportunities for recreation and tourism, while also ensuring we protect the things Victorians love about the bush.
The Great Outdoors Taskforce will ensure options for future uses and care of the forest are explored, including protecting the unique things that Victorians love most about the environment while also maximising recreational opportunities.
The Taskforce will not be making any recommendation for large-scale changes to land tenure.
There is already so much to explore in Victoria, with Free Camping this summer, 31 new and 60 upgraded campgrounds, as well as 155 upgraded four-wheel drive tracks, and 16 walking tracks totalling 31 kilometres recently completed as part of a $106.6 million investment in Victoria's Great Outdoors.
The consultation is open until 12 January 2025, to have your say visit engage.vic.gov.au/the-future-of-state-forests.
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"Victoria is home to some of the most impressive forests in the world, and we want as many Victorians as possible to enjoy the great outdoors."
"We want to grow opportunities for Victorians to enjoy the outdoors and ensure our forests continue to attract visitors from across the globe to camp, bush walk, hunt, horse ride, BMX, four-wheel drive, walk their dogs, fish and more."
As stated by Great Outdoors Taskforce chair Lisa Neville
"The outdoors are there to be experienced and admired, not locked away. Our focus is to bring more families to the bush and more jobs to the regions - while still protecting our environment."
