Overview
Parks Victoria has developed a draft Land Management Strategy that sets out a clear vision and long-term strategies and priorities for the protection, management and use of Parks Victoria managed land for the next decade. This is the first time Parks Victoria has embarked on preparing a state-wide land management strategy. Once finalised, the Land Management Strategy will provide us with an overarching and consistent state-wide guide for the management of our parks across the state.
The draft Land Management Strategy has been informed by early stakeholder and community engagement undertaken in 2019, which focussed on the draft aspiration and guiding principles for the Land Management Strategy. Drafting of the strategy and the public consultation to inform its development is legislated under the Parks Victoria Act (2018). It will be revisited at least every 10 years and is supported by an Outcomes Reporting Framework to track its implementation.
The draft strategy is open for consultation from 16 September to 1 November 2021.
Consultation on the draft Land Management Strategy
As visitors and supporters of Victoria’s parks and reserves, your understanding and experience of the parks estate is critical to the finalisation of the Land Management Strategy.
You can participate by:
- downloading the draft Land Management Strategy and draft Outcomes Reporting Framework
- joining an online community information session (see Key Dates to the left or below)
- completing the the survey, or uploading a submission (below).
Stage two consultation - open
Stage one consultation - closed
Victoria’s parks are resilient, inclusive and valued; conserving nature and cultural heritage; supporting Traditional Owner aspirations; and contributing to healthy communities
To read through the full definitions of the draft Guiding Principles, please refer to our LMS engagement pack (underneath the heading "Document Library")
1. Maintain and strengthen the parks estate
Land will be managed in accordance with the purpose for which it is reserved and to protect its environmental, cultural and social values. All actions should enhance the park estate, be purposeful and embrace design for all. Park management will reflect best practice, and parks will be fit for their identified purpose and function.
2. Prepare for the future
Park plans and management will prepare for, and respond to emerging environmental and social issues and anticipate how the park estate will be in the future. This includes responding to forecasted changes resulting from climate change, changing recreational patterns and recognising that more parks and reserves will be transferred to Aboriginal title and be managed according to joint management plans.
3. Connect with community
Parks will be inclusive destinations that provide for a range of visitor experiences and access for all. The community will have a variety of ways to engage with, connect to, understand and be active in the parks estate. Parks will be recognised and appreciated not only for their environmental, cultural and landscape values, but also for the services that provide broader community benefits including health and wellbeing, sense of community, clean water, climate regulation, coastal protection and pollination services. Traditional Owner connections to Country will be respected and supported.
4. Use knowledge and evidence-based management
Decisions will be supported by science, knowledge, understanding of risks and community values. Evidence-based management that utilises the best available science and knowledge will be used to deal with uncertainty and drive adaptive management.
5. Protect natural and cultural values
The ecological and cultural integrity of the parks estate will be strengthened by being protected and actively conserved to become sustainable and resilient to adapt or recover from the disturbance of major threats.
6. Build Partnerships
Partnerships and community involvement that provide mutual benefits to the parks estate and the community will be sought and supported across landscapes. These are to provide mechanisms for effective management and realising emergent opportunities.
7. Promote public safety and adopt a risk-based approach
There is an element of risk in experiencing Victoria’s natural environment and the outdoors. Managing risk, including preparing for and managing fire and other threats, responding to emergencies, and appropriately managing risks to park visitors will be a key consideration in park management decision making.
8. Apply rational decision making
All strategic decision-making will be characterised by rationality and predictability using, where appropriate, structured decision support systems. Sound judgement will be used to consider all stakeholders involved. All decisions will be consistent with a risk-based approach to meeting the requirements of policies, plans, programmes and legislation.
Document Library
Complete the Survey
Collection Notice
Parks Victoria is committed to protecting personal information provided by you. Your personal information and the content of your submission will be dealt with in accordance with the Public Records Act 1973, the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.
All submissions (this includes surveys) are public documents within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, whether marker confidential or not.
If submission are published your privacy will be protected. Before we publish submissions we will remove:
- personal information including signatures, addresses, emails;
- any sensitive information; and
- offensive or defamatory content.
If you believe your submission contains information that should be confidential or is commercially sensitive, you must let us know why in writing at engage@parks.vic.gov.au.
The personal contact information you provide will be used to administer the public consultation process. Your personal contact information will not be provided to any other organisation unless required by law.
Your personal contact information may be used by Parks Victoria to update you on this project. You can request not to receive these updates at any time. To access your data or to request not to receive updates, please email us at engage@parks.vic.gov.au.
For more information please read Parks Victoria’s Privacy Policy. Parks Victoria uses Campaign Monitor to distribute project updates, you can read their privacy policy here - www.campaignmonitor.com/policies/#privacy-policy
