What is the Great Outdoors Taskforce?

IN last week’s edition, Minister for the Environment, Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Sports and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, spoke about the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) report into the future of the Central Highlands forests and explained the next stages.

He emphasised that the new Great Outdoors Taskforce will also be providing a report to the government.

The taskforce will be consulting with communities across the next 12 months and will then provide a report to the government.

So who is on the Great Outdoors Taskforce and what will they do?

The taskforce will be chaired by former Environment Minister Lisa Neville.

The members of the taskforce include the chair of the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement Karen Cain, chair of VEAC and member of the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement Mellissa Wood, chair of the Victoria Fisheries Authority Graham Dear, and CEO of Destination Gippsland Terry Robinson.

The taskforce will also include Traditional Owner representation.

Their involvement will be flexible to allow for each Traditional Owner group to determine its involvement.

The press release stated, “The taskforce will consult with communities and stakeholders, ensuring all options for future uses and care of the forest are heard and explored.

The taskforce will consider opportunities to protect the environment and support recreational, social and commercial opportunities in their recommendations to government.

“This includes investigating which areas of the estate present opportunities for recreation and tourism such as camping, hunting, hiking, trail-bike riding and four-wheel driving.

“The taskforce will also explore which areas need to be….

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