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FROSTY FLEET: Cars stream into Mansfield on a cold and frosty Saturday morning, with eager snow goers preparing for a day of activities at Mt Buller. PHOTO: Shaun McMahon
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HOSPITAL CONCERNS ON BULLER
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Woods Point’s worries RESIDENTS of Woods Point, one of Mansfield Shire’s most outlying communities, have expressed concerns about two key issues affecting them: a state government proposal to convert nearby state forest into national park and the ongoing remediation of the Morning Star mine site. The park proposal, put forward by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC), has aims to transform several state forests in Victoria’s Central Highlands into protected national parks. This plan is part of a broader vision similar to the Great Forest National Park proposal, which seeks to connect over 500,000 hectares of Victorian forest.
Residents R id t voice i concerns over national ti l park p k and d mine i remediation di ti plans pl BY SHAUN McMAHON smcmahon@ nemedia.com.au
The Eminent Panel for Community Engagement are reported to have led public consultations on this proposal, with recommendations initially expected in June. Tony Rugys, a local resident and former CFA captain, highlighted the potential impact of the national park proposal on Woods Point. He raised concerns about the management of wild dogs and the loss of essential services and activities, saying that aerial culling and not removing
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but leaving carcasses has seen a huge increase in the wild dog population. “I saw a stag outside my window when I woke one morning,” said Mr Rugys. “When a deer comes to my place for shelter, there’s a problem.” “Then I saw a big dog take off up the spur, and I knocked it halfway up. “Later on, I went to move it off the track, and the dog had been torn apart by its own brother.” Mr Rugys indicated this change in wild dog behaviour was concerning and depending on how brazen they got, could be dangerous to children within surrounding townships.
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He also mentioned potential issues with the coordination between different agencies, bushfire mitigation, and the ability to collect firewood. “Parks Victoria don’t talk to DEECA; they don’t tell each other what they’re doing,” he said. “Locking up the area as a national park means DEECA can’t maintain fire breaks. “Woods Point’s a place where electricity is unreliable; it went out 44 days last year, full days, not for ten minutes. “We can’t rely on electric heating, we have to have firewood.” Mr Rugys said that changing surrounding state forest (which has designated
firewood collection areas) to national park (which does not) would significantly affect the community. He also felt that Woods Point was being left out of important discussions. “They tried to keep it as hush-hush as possible,” Mr Rugys said. “Woods Point wasn’t even invited to any sort of consultation or engagement; there should have been a town meeting. “I’ve rung up politicians – Cindy McLeish has been excellent, but Helen Haines hasn’t visited once in the two terms she’s been in office, whereas Sophie Mirabella used to come here at least two times per year, and Bill Sykes used to come
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up on a regular basis.” Mr Rugys also warned about the broader implications of the national park designation. “It not only means no firewood, but no seasonal hunting, fishing, four wheel driving, and if you take that away and allow people to only camp in designated areas - our main lot of people come from Pakenham and Gippsland areas, and they spend millions on vehicles and camper trailers,” said Mr Rugys. “They reckon it’s going to bring in 20,000 workers or whatever; it’s a load of crap, and it’s going to cost areas like ours multi-millions.” ■ Continued page 2
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