Minister comments on Central Highlands consultation and Lake Mountain

MINISTER for the Environment, Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Sports and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos was interviewed at the opening of the new conservation hatchery at Snobs Creek.

He said of the event, which is covered in more detail on page 14 of this edition, “The beauty of this is it brings science, the really important work of threatened species, together with recreational fishing and community education.

It’s a full, beautiful story. We’re trying to nourish and protect the very environment that’s allowing us to keep doing the things we love, which is fishing.”

The event provided the opportunity to discuss additional topics as well.

Asked about the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) report into the future of the Central Highlands forests, Mr Dimopoulos said, “What the next stage is, VEAC has given their report to the Eminent Panel for community engagement, which is the group that was set up a little while ago, probably a couple of years, to effectively do some work and give the government a report.

It’s really important to remember, VEAC is giving them a report, and they’re going to give us a report about what is possible in terms of the Central Highlands, what areas should be further protected perhaps, what areas are open to other activities, whether they be outdoor recreation or tourism opportunities and those things.

“That is also part of a bigger story. You may be aware that we’ve announced a Great Outdoors Taskforce.

It’s a panel of six people, headed up by Lisa Neville, the former Environment Minister.

On that panel, there’s an outdoor recreation person, there’s a tourism person, so there’s a bit of economic development, and a couple of environmental people. They were only appointed a couple of weeks back.

Over the next 12 months, they’re going to a range of consultations, listening to a lot of local communities, both….