River Red Gum sub: 2 @) Nos Dear Director Please find attached my revised comments on the draft Proposals from the River Redgum Forests Investigation Please disregard my previous Email I have realised there was an error in the attached letter Nigel Caswell, \VEAC leteti¢ ARF doeThe Director The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council Level 6/8 Nicholson Street East Melbourne Vic 3004 Dear Sir Thank you for making available for comment the Counci’s draft proposals arising from the River Redgum Forests Investigation. | strongly support the protection, conservation and enhancement of these Forest Areas. The Redgum is a truly majestic symbol of the uniqueness of Australian fiora and we have a responsibility to ‘ensure that they thrive for the benefit of the wealth of flora and fauna they host as well as for the benefit of future generations of humans in Australia. | therefore wish to register my strong support for the creation of new and additional National Parks namely: + Barmah National Park- a large new national park inthe largest River Red Gum forest slong the River Murray. + Gunbower National Park- @ new national par fom state forest and River Murray Reserve on the River Murray near Cohuna + Lower Goulburn River National Park. a new rational park extending trom the River Murray, ‘long the Goulburn River to the south of Shepparton and ineluding Kanyaplla Basin + Warby Range-Ovens River National Park-ontargoment and adcition to the Warby Range ‘State Park of regional park and state forest along the Ovens River. + Leaghur-Koorangie National Park- a new national park in he Loddon and Avoca River floodplains west and south of Kerang, including Leaghur State Park, Koorangle (The Marshes) Wadi Reserve and Wandella Fora and Fauna Reser. + Murray-Sunset National Park-a substantial addtional area to this existing national park, including WatipolaIstand, Mlroo Creek Wildlife Area and River Murray Reserve, + Terrick Terrick National Park- the adciton of several grassland nature conservation reserves, and other pubic land units | similarly wish to register my strong support for the creation of new and additional Regional and other parks namely: + Murray River Park-consolidation of the River Murray Reserve and incorporation of regional parks at Echuca, Tocumwal, Cobram, Yarrawonga and Wodonga, + Four parks balancing recreation and conservation objectives along the River ‘Murray (three new) ~Kings Bilabong Park incorporating Kings Billabong Wildife Reserve and Bote Bond; Murray-Kulkyne Park incorporating the existing park and River Murray Reserve neat Colignan: Gadisen Bend Park incorporating state forest and River Murray Reserve south of Robinval; and Nyah- Viniflora Per incorporating Nyah State Forest and Vinfora forest (Rivor Murray Resorva) downstream of Swan Hil - Two new regional parks close to regional centres-Kerang Regional Park incorporating Fostors, Back and Town Swamps and Cemetery Forest Wife Reserve; and Shepparton Regional Park adjoining tho proposed Lowr Goulburn River National Park and incorporating pat ofthe Lowor Goulburn State Forest, Shepparton Flora and Fauna Reserve end Mooroopna Recreation Reserve. Jalso wish to register my strong support for + Changes to National Parks Act to allow co-management and amendments recommended to allow hand back/lease pack of National Parks to Traditional owners (anywhere in Vic); and specific recommendations for parks to be co-operatively managed with aboriginal traditional owners ‘Secure environmental water for Victorian floodplain forests in the study area ith a release of the water every 5 years+ The phasing out of stock grazing across public land and on public land water frontages. However, | suggest that there is room for improvement of the proposals in the following area: + logging -There should be recommendations for an immediate end to logging in proposed parks to prevent any further loss of biodiversity with appropriate support to affected communities and investment in infrastructure to improve tourism. In this, regard | suggest + there is inadequate protection for the internationally significant Gunbower forest wetlands, with around 70% stil open for logging, and «there needs to be strong recommendations for development of a private sector agro-forestry industry on cleared private land. | look forward to further progress towards the long term protection conservation and enhancement of these vital and symbolic natural assets. Yours Sincerely Nigel Caswell