Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (22:31): (2238) My adjournment is to the Minister for Environment. In 2021 the government permitted camping on some Crown land next to Victorian rivers. At the time, concerns were raised about the lack of transparency, and farmers were left frustrated and angry about the potential damage to fences, gates being left open and the impact on their livestock. At Meadow Valley Dam, south of Lake Eppalock, up to 100 campers occupy Crown land waterfront at any one time. Since camping was allowed, adjoining landowners Karen West and Ian Ross of Mia Mia have faced illegal rubbish dumping. I have seen photos of piles of tyres, furniture and old equipment being left at the site. They have had trees cut down, campfires have been left burning, and they have had repeated trespassing on their property. An irrigation pump has been damaged multiple times, including the float being shot with a shotgun. They have attempted all avenues available to them. Their reports to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Goulburn–Murray Water, the City of Greater Bendigo and Victoria Police are just handballed to someone else. The action I seek is for the minister to review the impact of riverfront Crown land camping and take action to protect these adjoining landowners, including restricting camping, enforcing compliance and preventing damage to private property.