Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (13:08): (2314) My constituency question is for the Minister for Environment. Last month Parks Victoria cleared rare montane grassy woodland in Macedon Regional Park to create a viewscape for the Mount Macedon memorial cross. Only around 21 hectares of this woodland survive across central and western Victoria. Snow gums, alpine ash and other native plants on this land are important habitat for animals and fungi. Despite Macedon Ranges Shire Council refusing its planning permit in 2023, Parks Victoria gained approval for the clearing from the Minister for Planning, who deemed the project to be of state significance. Parks Victoria justified this both to the public and to the minister based on a heritage obligation requiring view lines to be maintained at the memorial cross. However, Heritage Victoria has since confirmed this obligation does not exist. Since this was used as a central justification for the clearing of threatened woodland, what steps is the minister taking to set the record straight?