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Below: January 11, 2013: Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park, Halls Gap, The Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia, released this promotional video. It features music and images of the park without commentary.
Below: On August 23, 2012, the ABC ran a news report on the Victorian government’s decision to allow private development in the state’s national parks. The report looks at arguments for and against the change in policy. Below: On May 22, 2011, the Victorian National Parks Association released their second video report arguing against the re-introduction of cattle grazing in the Victorian Alpine National Parks. Below: On March 16, 2011, Victorian National Parks Association released their first video report arguing against the re-introduction of cattle grazing in the Victorian Alpine National Parks. |
 Web links, documents |
On April 9, 2013, Urbanalyst published a detailed overview of the guidelines under which private development will be allowed within Victoria's national parks. The overview includes response opposing and supporting the guidelines.
This treatment can be accessed at http://www.urbanalyst.com/in-the-news/victoria/1747-victorian-government-releases-guidelines-to-support-tourism-investment-in-national-parks.html
On April 3, 2013, the conservation group, Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests issued a media release titled 'National Parks for sale?'
The release gives the group's detailed objections to the government's decision to allow private development in Victorian national parks.
The full text of the release can be accessed at http://www.fobif.org.au/2013/04/national-parks-for-sale/
On April 3, 2013, Foster Community Online posted a detailed analysis of the guidelines under which the government intends to allow private development in the state's national parks. The analysis includes comments supporting and opposing the guidelines.
It can be accessed at http://www.foster.vic.au/government-sets-guidelines-for-tourism-development-in-victorias-parks/
On April 2, 2013, Peter Ryan, the Member for Gippsland South, Deputy Premier,
Minister for State Development and Minister for Regional and Rural Development issued a media release titled 'Enhanced opportunities for eco-tourism in national parks'. The piece argues in favour of the government's decision to allow private development on national parks.
The full text of this media release can be found at http://peterryan.com.au/_blog/Press_Releases/post/Enhanced_opportunities_for_eco-tourism_in_National_Parks_/
On April 1, 2013, Sunraysia Daily published an opinion piece by Dianne Smith, the chief executive officer of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council. The piece is titled 'Private investment in tourism hailed'.
The comment praises the government's decision to allow private development in national parks. The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/story/1399766/private-investment-in-tourism-hailed/
On March 31, 2013, the Victorian National Parks Association issued a detailed media release outlining their objections to private development in the state's national parks.
The full text titled can be accessed in five parts at
1. http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/take-action/private-development-push-threatens-victoria%27s-national-parks
2. http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/parks-protection/private-developments-will-grow-and-grow
3. http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/parks-protection/regional-tourism-doesn%E2%80%99t-need-developments-in-parks
4. http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/parks-protection/commercial-development-in-parks--_-neither-affordable-or-sustainable
5. http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conservation/parks-protection/victorian-policy-framework-is-flawed
On March 31, 2013, the Victorian Premier's Department issued a media release announcing the guidelines which will determine how private developments will be allowed in Victoria's national parks.
The media release can be accessed at http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/6388-guidelines-to-unlock-victorias-nature-based-tourism-.html
The guidelines themselves can be accessed at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/164290/DSE-Tourism-Guidelines.pdf
On September 23, 2012, The Conversation published an opinion piece by
Dr Sue Beeton, Associate Professor in Tourism at La Trobe University. The piece is titled 'Is nature-based tourism development really what our national parks need?'
The piece contrasts the arguments for tourist development within national parks against the arguments opposing such development. Overall it recommends caution.
The opinion piece can be accessed at http://theconversation.com/is-nature-based-tourism-development-really-what-our-national-parks-need-9090
On September 3, 2012, the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) issued a media release supporting the Victorian government's decision to allow private development in the state's national parks. The comment was written by Dianne Smith, the chief executive officer of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council. The full text of this comment can be accessed at http://www.vecci.org.au/policy-and-advocacy/news/blog/2012/09/03/realising-victoria%E2%80%99s-tourism-potential
On August 28, 2012, The Star published a series of comments titled 'Prom not at risk: Ryan'. The piece gives comments from a range of government leaders and tourism spokespeople supporting the decision to allow private development in national parks.
The full text can be accessed at http://thestar.com.au/?p=4296
On August 27, 2012, The Wimmera Mail Times published a news report titled 'Tourism body backs Grampians investment plan'. The article gives a range of views in response to the government's decision to allow private development in national parks.
The full text of this report can be found at http://www.mailtimes.com.au/story/256151/tourism-body-backs-grampians-investment-plan/
On August 24, 2012, the ABC ran a news report titled 'National parks to be protected under tourism plan'. The report quotes state government assurances that the change in regulations governing national parks will be managed responsibly so as not to harm the parks.
This report can be accessed at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-23/national-parks-to-be-protected-under-tourism-plan/4218216
On August 23, 2012, the Victorian National Parks Association issued a media release responding to the state government's announcement of its intention to allow private development in nation parks. The Association is highly critical of the new regulations.
The text of this media release can be accessed at http://vnpa.org.au/page/publications/media-releases/parks-are-for-nature-not-private-development
In August, 2012, the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance released 'Unlocking Victorian Tourism: An inquiry into Victoria's tourism industry'. The document details the Victorian government's response to Victorian Competition and
Efficiency Commission's (VCEC) Final Report on the state's tourism industry.
The VCEC recommended a number of actions designed to grow Victoria's tourism industry; included among these recommendations was allowing private development in the state's national parks.
In 'Unlocking Victorian Tourism', the state government accepted this recommendation regarding national parks. The full text of this document can be found at http://www.vcec.vic.gov.au/CA256EAF001C7B21/WebObj/GovernmentResponsetoVCECInquiryintoVictoria%27sTourismIndustry%28PDF%29/$File/Government%20Response%20to%20VCEC%20Inquiry%20into%20Victoria%27s%20Tourism%20Industry%20%28PDF%29.pdf
On March 21, 2011, The Education Age overviewed the arguments for and against allowing private development in Victoria's national parks.
This treatment can be found at http://education.theage.com.au/cmspage.php?intid=135&intversion=341
