Hansard debates

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (10:39:52): I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I ask that my second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Incorporated speech as follows: The Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 amends several Acts relating to Crown land to create new park and reserve areas, increase administrative efficiencies and make a range of minor and technical amendments. Of particular note, it implements two of the government’s election commitments relating to Crown land by: • creating the Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal Park on the Bass Coast; and • enabling camping on licensed river frontages. The Bill also: • creates the Yellingbo Landscape Conservation Area and the Don Valley Education Reserve; • adds high conservation value areas to Errinundra and Great Otway national parks, and alters or corrects the boundaries of several other existing parks and reserves; • re-reserves land in the vicinity of the expanded Bendigo Airport for aerodrome purposes to support its ongoing operation; • improves the efficiency of certain administrative processes relating to Parks Victoria; • commences the process of modernising the Crown land legislation by repealing many redundant or spent provisions; and • makes several other minor or technical amendments. Creation of Yallock-Bulluk Marine and Coastal Park The Andrews Labor Government is committed to helping more Victorians enjoy the great outdoors. As part of its 2018 'Victoria’s Great Outdoors’ election policy, the government committed to creating a new marine and coastal park on the Bass Coast. The park will stretch along the highly scenic coast from San Remo to Inverloch. It will initially incorporate several existing parks and reserves—Bunurong Marine Park, Bunurong, Kilcunda-Harmers Haven and Punchbowl coastal reserves and Wonthaggi Heathlands Nature Conservation Reserve—together with other suitable adjoining Crown land. The proposed park is already popular with visitors who are drawn to the spectacular coastal scenery and the George Bass Coastal Walk. The government has committed significant funds to support the park’s creation and provide improved and additional visitor facilities, which will help boost the region’s visitor economy. The works will be progressively implemented following the completion of an access and infrastructure precinct plan developed in consultation with the community. There has been considerable community consultation leading up to the introduction of this Bill and there is widespread community support for the park’s creation. Importantly, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation has proposed an Aboriginal name for the park—Yallock-Bulluk—to honour the Yallock-Bulluk Clan of the Bunurong People, whose Country includes the park area. Enabling camping on licensed river frontages Another important election commitment was to further encourage families and friends to spend time together in the outdoors by enabling camping on licensed river frontages. This recognises that this activity has been occurring on many of these frontages for many years. The Bill amends the Land Act 1958 by removing the current prohibition on camping on those frontages and inserting appropriate regulation-making powers to assist in managing the recreational activity and protecting the environment (including water quality). It is recognised that not all frontages are suitable for camping, for example because of their significant environmental values. Implementation of the policy will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders. Creating Yellingbo Landscape Conservation Area Arising from recommendations of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s Yellingbo Special Investigation, the Bill creates the Yellingbo Landscape Conservation Area as the first of its kind under the National Parks Act 1975. The primary object of such areas will be their protection, enhancement and management as part of a fragmented natural landscape for the purposes of nature conservation. They will also provide opportunities for appropriate enjoyment, recreation and education. The Yellingbo Landscape Conservation Area supports a range of significant natural values, including habitat of two of the state’s faunal emblems—the Helmeted Honeyeater and the lowland form of the Leadbeater’s Possum. Initially the landscape conservation area will comprise the Beenak, Hoddles Creek, Sheep Station Creek, Warramate Hills and Yellingbo nature conservation areas, the Wright Forest Bushland Area and Haining Farm. Part of the Coranderrk Bushland managed by Zoos Victoria will also be recognised as part of the broader landscape but will remain managed under the Zoological Parks and Gardens Act 1995. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is consulting with the Wurundjeri People about a suitable Aboriginal name for the area which could be adopted through future legislation. Creating the Don Valley Education Reserve In the same area, the Bill also creates the Don Valley Education Reserve under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 on part of what is now Haining Farm. This is the site of a new campus for The Alpine School, a School for Student Leadership, which the government is building. The Bill protects the natural values of part of the site. Supporting the upgraded Bendigo Airport The government has strongly supported the upgrading of Bendigo Airport which has enabled Qantas to introduce flights between Sydney and Bendigo. The upgrade has involved extending and widening the runway and requires managing vegetation in the vicinity of the runway to meet the safety standards of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Some of this land is located within the existing Bendigo Regional Park. To ensure that operational requirements can continue to be met efficiently, the Bill excises relevant land from the regional park, re-reserves it for aerodrome purposes (together with a section of closed government road) and appoints the City of Greater Bendigo as the committee of management. To offset the excision and clearing, the City of Greater Bendigo is surrendering vegetated land for inclusion in the regional park and the nearby Greater Bendigo National Park. Altering the boundaries of other existing parks and reserves The Bill makes several amendments to other existing parks and reserves under the National Parks Act 1975 or the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 by adding high conservation value areas to Errinundra and Great Otway national parks and altering or correcting the boundaries of several other parks and reserves. Errinundra National Park In 2018 the government committed to protecting forests with high environmental value in and around the Kuark Forest south of Errinundra National Park. These areas include old growth forest and habitat for threatened species. The Bill adds 3220 hectares of State forest in two consolidated blocks to the park, adding to the areas of forest permanently protected in East Gippsland’s magnificent parks. Most of the additions are currently within special protection zones. Great Otway National Park In 2017 a significant part of the Anglesea Heath previously leased by Alcoa and containing exceptional biodiversity conservation values was added to the Great Otway National Park. The Bill provides for a further 131 hectares of the Anglesea Heath north of the former mine site to be included in the park. Other parks and reserves The Bill removes a narrow strip of land from Hattah-Kulkyne National Park that has been found to be part of the road reserve of the Calder Highway, and also a small area that is part of a refuse tip from French Island National Park. It also corrects the boundaries of Dandenong Ranges National Park, Macedon Regional Park and Eldorado Historic Reserve. The Bill takes the opportunity to remove doubt over the status of an area of freehold land which had previously been thought to be part of the Greater Bendigo National Park and provides for its inclusion in the park after the title is surrendered. Miscellaneous amendments The Bill adds the Grampians National Park and Cape Liptrap Coastal Park to the list of parks in relation to which the Minister responsible for the National Parks Act 1975 may grant a reasonable right of access to a landowner whose land abuts or is surrounded by the park and where the practical access to the freehold is through the park. The Bill also provides greater efficiencies in some of the administrative processes relating to Parks Victoria. These processes are associated with amendments to the record of land which Parks Victoria is to control and manage, and proposals by the Minister to issue, amend or vary a statement of obligations. Modernising Crown land legislation In 2017 the government committed to modernising the legislation governing Crown land—in particular, the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, the Forests Act 1958 and the Land Act 1958—to ensure it was fit for purpose and reflected contemporary values and processes. Some of this legislation dates back to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This Bill assists in this task by repealing many redundant or spent provisions of the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 and the Land Act 1958, as well as the National Parks Act 1975. Conclusion In conclusion, the Bill helps to implement the government’s commitment to encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors, further protects Victoria’s natural environment, supports the delivery of several government priorities and makes other, miscellaneous amendments relating to Crown land administration. I commend the Bill to the house.