VEAC Assessment of the values of state forests in the Central Highlands

VEAC has published its interim assessment of the state forests in the Central Highlands. VEAC was requested on 20 March 2023 by the previous Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt MP to assess the values of the Immediate Protection Areas in the Central Highlands and East Gippsland, and in adjacent state forests. The Terms of Reference were amended on 11 September 2023 to focus on all the state forests in the Central Highlands Regional Forest Agreement area. The assessment will inform the work of an Eminent Panel for Community Engagement in its engagement program and provision of recommendations to the Minister on the future uses of the Immediate Protection Areas and adjacent state forest in eastern Victoria.

Progress

Draft
In progress
Completed

Overview

VEAC was requested on 20 March 2023 by the previous Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt MP to assess the values of the Immediate Protection Areas in the Central Highlands and East Gippsland, and in adjacent state forests. The Terms of Reference were amended on 11 September 2023 to focus on all the state forests in the Central Highlands Regional Forest Agreement area.

The assessment will inform the work of an Eminent Panel for Community Engagement in its engagement program and provision of recommendations to the Minister on the future uses of the Immediate Protection Areas and adjacent state forest in eastern Victoria. For more information on the Panel's engagement see here.

The full terms of reference are available in Reports & Resources.

The purpose of the assessment is to:

(a) identify the biodiversity, ecological and geological and geomorphological values of the specified area

(b) identify the cultural heritage, social and economic values of the specified area

(d) identify the typical land use categories commensurate with the identified values

(e) assess the potential economic implications of proposed land use changes recommended by the Panel and provided to the Council

This request is for an assessment and report on the above values and the economic implications of the proposed recommendations of the EPCE. Public consultation and recommendations are not required.

VEAC has now published its assessment of the matters specified in (a) to (d). The Council will report on the completed assessment including the matter referenced at paragraph (e) by 31 July 2024.

The Minister amended the Terms of Reference on 18 June 2023, and again on 11 September 2023 to extend the reporting dates.

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	Title	Date	Type	Filesize
	Assessment of the values of the state forests in the Central Highlands - Interim report	19-12-2023	Reports	9.78 MB
	List of supplementary materials	19-12-2023	Reports	41.46 KB

Title	Date	Type	Filesize
01 Map (A1 size) of current public land use categories in the Central Highlands RFA area	19-12-2023	Additional maps	9.31 MB
02 Map (A1 size) of current EVC extent in the Central Highlands RFA area	19-12-2023	Additional maps	15.72 MB
04 Geological and geomorphological sites of international, national and state significance in the Central Highlands state forests	19-12-2023	Additional data	144.29 KB
05a Wakelin Associates report Geological & Geomorphological significance	19-12-2023	Additional data	2.95 MB
05b Addendum to Wakelin Report Geological & Geomorphological significance	19-12-2023	Additional data	2.75 MB
06 Detailed lists of historic sites and reserves in the Central Highlands	19-12-2023	Additional data	270.51 KB
07 Additional information on licences and leases in the Central Highlands state forests	19-12-2023	Additional data	194.98 KB
08 Geological Survey of Victoria assessment of the geological and geomorphological values of the Central Highlands state forests	19-12-2023	Additional data	6.71 MB
03 List of Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) showing protected area shortfalls for the Central Highlands RFA area	19-12-2023	Additional data	159.07 KB
Terms of Reference	11-09-2023	Additional data	488.35 KB