Thursday, 19 February 2026

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (18:16): (2334) My adjournment debate is for the Minister for Environment. It concerns the amendment to the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape management plan and the governance of climbing access at Mount Arapiles. Under the Parks Victoria Act 2018 the minister holds the ultimate accountability for amending this management plan, but there are sincere concerns from stakeholders and locals in the area with regard to this. The decision framework was adopted in 2021 and lacks transparency. It applies inconsistent standards and restricts public access without meaningful consultation or justification – haven’t we heard that before. In late 2024, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action of Victoria engaged the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions to produce an economic impact report on climbing closures. The Allan government relied heavily on this document despite its very narrow scope and flawed assumptions, including a significant understatement of the social and economic consequences for regional communities, tourism operators and recreational users of these climbs.

Although the cultural landscape community working group has been formed, its joint statement and minutes reveal no commitment to revisit or reassess those climbing closures from back a few years ago, and instead the group’s role appears to be limited to relationship-building activities and creating the appearance of engagement without actually offering the community genuine influence over core access decisions. The concerns raised by the community to me also go to the report that the government quietly allocated $100,000 to the Barengi Gadjin Land Council at the end of last year to support climbing and access, a payment that was not publicly disclosed and which raises further issues around transparency. The formation of the Yity Yity Land Management Board, gazetted last year, occurred without public acknowledgement, leaving it again unclear how the government’s procedures will now occur.

The government must acknowledge that the current framework is failing. Parks Victoria should be directed to undertake a transparent, inclusive and properly co-designed process. Independent representation from stakeholders, climbers, business operators and tourism operators and the sector out there needs to be part of this consultation process. It needs to restore balance and build public confidence. Rigorous and independent assessment of economic and community impacts is also required. Accordingly, the action I seek from the minister is to publish clear terms of reference and guidelines for a co-design process to ensure the working group actually works through this in a public, transparent and supportive way, for the culture, for the environment and for the community out there.