Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Metropolitan and regional parks regulations

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) presented a petition bearing 292 signatures:

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council concerns the petitioners have about the proposed Metropolitan and Regional Parks Regulations. As drafted, these regulations prohibit bushwalking (regulation 407) and climbing (regulation 906) in parks by default. These activities will only be permitted in designated trails and areas specified by land managers. The regulations also include severe penalties for walking or climbing in non-designated areas. This creates problems for other activities such as swimming, orienteering, kayaking, geocaching, and foraging, which often require going off-trail. Trails may be poorly marked and maintained, and the regulations may discourage hikers from calling for help if lost, for fear of penalties, which puts their safety at risk. The proposed regulations would apply to more than 40 parks, including previously unregulated areas like Macedon Regional Park and Plenty Gorge Park. These parks are particularly valuable to the outdoor community in Victoria due to their proximity to the city. Each year hundreds of new climbers and hikers are introduced to the Australian outdoors through them. Under the proposed regulations, access to these activities would only exist at the discretion of land managers with broad powers.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to review the proposed Metropolitan and Regional Parks Regulations and reopen the consultation process to allow for substantial community feedback.

Bev McARTHUR: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

Motion agreed to.