VEAC is required to establish a Community Reference Group to provide advice in respect of each investigation. The Council may also appoint any committees that it considers necessary to assist with conduct of investigations.
VEAC Central West Investigation
The report on VEAC's Central West Investigation was publicly released on 21 June 2019. The Government response to the recommendations was tabled in Parliament on 24 June 2021.
Progress
Overview
In March 2017, VEAC was requested by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon Lily D'Ambrosio MP to undertake a Central West Investigation. The full terms of reference for the investigation are available here. VEAC's investigations are conducted independently of government.
The report on VEAC's Central West Investigation was publicly released on 21 June 2019.
Government response
The Government response to the recommendations in the final report was tabled in Parliament on 24 June 2021. The response is available under Reports and Resources.
Interactive online maps (webmaps)
The interactive map enables users to view a map and associated information using pop-up windows containing details of each government-accepted public land use. A tool bar allows the users to zoom in-out, pan around the map, and identify features on each map.
The interactive online map is available here
The map of final recommendations published by VEAC is available as a pdf in Reports & Resources / Maps.
Additional information
For consultants' reports, fact sheets and other information see Reports and Resources and select Additional Information.
Submissions
A list of submissions received during the two periods of public consultation for the investigation is available from VEAC.
Summary of consultation
A summary of consultation carried out for the Central West Investigation and feedback on the Draft Proposals Paper is available under Reports & Resources.
Reports and resources
| Title | Date | Type | Filesize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central West Investigation Consultation Summary | 08-04-2019 | Reports | 11.18 MB | |
| Central West Investigation Draft Proposals Paper (interactive PDF) | 0000-00-00 | Reports | 13.96 MB | |
| Central West Investigation Final Report | 0000-00-00 | Reports | 5.28 MB | |
| Central West Investigation Final Report (Summary) | 0000-00-00 | Reports | 4.02 MB |
| Title | Date | Type | Filesize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current public land use in the Central West Investigation area | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 5.61 MB | |
| Central West Investigation Area | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 2.29 MB | |
| Forest Management Zoning | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 3.66 MB | |
| Current extent of ecological vegetation classes | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 4.31 MB | |
| Map A - Final recommendations | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 5.11 MB | |
| Strategic Biodiversity Values - regional analysis of public land outside protected areas | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 877.12 KB | |
| Strategic Biodiversity Values - statewide analysis | 0000-00-00 | Maps | 3.26 MB |
| Title | Date | Type | Filesize | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victorian Government response to Central West Investigation | 23-06-2021 | Government response | 1.22 MB | |
| Aboriginal Community Engagement Project - Stage 1 | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 6.60 MB | |
| Aboriginal Community Engagement Project - Stage 2 | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 2.36 MB | |
| Central West Investigation Area Socio-Economic Profile | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 1.19 MB | |
| List of submitters | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 430.46 KB | |
| Mount Cole-Pyrenees Final recommendations fact sheet | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 1.22 MB | |
| Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the VEAC Central West Investigation Area | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 2.32 MB | |
| Social and economic analysis of final recommendations | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 1.22 MB | |
| Wellsford Final recommendations fact sheet | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 1.43 MB | |
| Wombat-Macedon Final recommendations fact sheet | 0000-00-00 | Additional data | 1.64 MB | |
| Terms of reference | 0000-00-00 | Other | 227.78 KB |
Submissions
There were two submission periods for the Central West Investigation.
The first submission period for the Central West Investigation commenced with the advertisement of the notice of investigation on 21 June 2017 and closed on 21 August 2017. VEAC received 643 submissions in this first round of consultation.
The second submission period began on 31 August 2018 when VEAC released the draft proposals paper. It was extended beyond the minimum 60-day period to close on 10 December (a total of 102 days) to provide people with more opportunity to respond to the draft recommendations. In total, 2698 written submissions on the draft proposals paper were received.
Committees
The Central West Investigation Community Reference Group was independently chaired by Mr Ian Harris.
| Member name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| John Petheram | Bushwalking Victoria (Ballarat Walking Club) |
| Ann McGregor | Central Victorian Biolinks Alliance Inc. |
| Wayne Hevey | Four Wheel Drive Victoria |
| Michelle Wyatt | Macedon Ranges Shire Council |
| Rita Bentley | Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria |
| Terry McAliece | Pyrenees Shire Council |
| Ken Gell | Central Victorian Apiarists Association |
| Tim Morrissey | Victorian Association of Forest Industries |
| John Edmonds | Victorian Farmers Federation |
| Matt Ruchel | Victorian National Parks Association |
| Wendy Radford | Wellsford Forest Conservation Alliance |
| Murray Ralph | Wombat ForestCare |