Protecting Mirboo North’s precious forests

By Preserve our Forests

USER groups, business and environmental groups from all over the region, put forward their views on the future of the Mirboo North Immediate Protection Area (IPA) forests. 

Preserve our Forests (PoF) thank the residents of Mirboo North, and surrounds, for their highly valued participation in the engagement process. 

There were conversations with 28 groups, with groups from the Latrobe Valley, South Gippsland, Gippsland and Melbourne.

Peak body organisations were also included. 

Drop-in sessions in Mirboo North were attended by 115 people, a great effort by all and demonstrates the regional importance of the Mirboo North forests.

Thanks must also go to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) for their Report on the scientific assessment of the IPA and surrounding forest, the Eminent Panel for Community

Engagement (EPCE), for providing community consultation and compiling the Report, and Mosaic Lab the facilitators who captured the key findings from the engagement process. 

The EPCE Report includes recommendations and proposed uses for the IPA. 

The Minster for Environment, Energy and Climate Action has received the Report and has 6 months to respond. 

We are now in a transition phase as we wait for the Minister to accept the recommendations in order for a Management Plan to be developed.

A key recommendation of the EPCE Report is that a Conservation Park be established. 

The engagement process identified that conservation and protection of the forest was a major theme with recreation and local use next, followed consecutively by land and forest management, industry, information and awareness, and traditional owner interests. 

Another key recommendation is … “prioritising of investigation into enhanced landscape connectivity throughout the Strzelecki Ranges. This includes assessment of the adjoining Regional Park [Lyrebird Forest Walk] for inclusion as part of a larger Conservation Park.”

Traditional Owner partnerships and community collaboration is also a recommendation and outlines the proposal for the appointed Land Manager and Traditional Owners (GLaWAK) to be in joint management, and to set up an interim community joint working group which will draw on community input in a collaborative model that will form the basis for a future Committee of Management. 

It is also recommended that an assessment of the Strzelecki Koala is undertaken to… “inform recognition of the Strzelecki Koala as a distinct genetic unit within the Victorian framework, including future management actions and conservation.” 

This species is of significance due to its high genetic diversity, essential for the future survival of the Victorian Koala population.

Preserve our Forests’ narrative is focussed on raising awareness of the rich biodiversity the Mirboo North forests contain. 

It is to this end that an evening will be held at the  Mirboo North Recreation Reserve (club rooms) Strzelecki Highway, Mirboo North, on October 12, at 7pm, “Gems of Mirboo North’s native forest” which will include exciting findings of both the flora and fauna in this forest.