By Jesse Graham
DELWP has extended an olive branch to Yarra Valley landowners, addressing the concerns of an advocacy group in a meeting in Woori Yallock last week.
On Wednesday 28 September, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) staff met with nine members of the Yarra Waterways Group to discuss the Yellingbo Conservation Area.
The reserve covers 51,000 hectares and encompasses waterways from Healesville and the Dandneong Ranges, stretching as far as Sassafras and Emerald.
The Waterways group was established to express concerns of landowners who were affected by the change, such as those who would have their licences over Crown land ended.
The Mail reported earlier this year that DELWP had advised some landowners that their licences over Crown land would end on 30 June, though this deadline was extended.
Chairman Rick Houlihan said the meeting addressed many of the group’s concerns, particularly those about fire management and the acquisition of freehold land.
“We’ve got a commitment from the department that there will be no compulsory acquisition of any freehold land in this process,” Mr Houlihan said.
“A lot of people have been a bit worried that the department was going to say, ‘We want to get our corridor, we want some more land’.”
He said communication would also be improved, and that people involved would receive personally addressed letters, rather than generic ones.
“It’ll sort-of appease a lot of people’s worries,” Mr Houlihan said.
DELWP Port Phillip Regional director Kelly Crosthwaite said that 45 licences due to be phased out were cancelled as of 30 September, but that DELWP would undertake “no compliance activity for the next sixth months”, as new arrangements are found.
“At the meeting DELWP acknowledged that there needs to be a more practical approach to the implementation of the new area, and that DELWP needs to improve its communication with impacted landowners,” Ms Crosthwaite said.
“It was acknowledged that improvements have been made already.”
Ms Crosthwaite said that DELWP would be inviting community members to “lead the development of strategic plans” for the management of the area next year.
“The plans will address bushfire risk, biodiversity value and water quality, weeds and pest animal management, and recreational use,” she said.
She added that the waterways group would be helping to design and scope draft bushfire management recommendations, and would regularly consult them throughout the process.
