Assessment of the Economic, Social and Environmental Impact of the Proposed Great Forest National Park to the Yarra Ranges Municipality

THE creation of a Great Forest National Park will have little or no positive impact on the Yarra Ranges region and could see more than 260 jobs lost. The Yarra Ranges Council’s own commissioned $33,000 independent report, says economic modelling indicated the loss of the employment associated with logging and sawmilling would result in a net loss of 264 jobs if timber harvesting was to be banned in the proposed national park. And of course would be larger if the jobs associated with support and transport services are also included. The Yarra Ranges Council’s independent report showed parks and state forests made a “significant” contribution to the Yarra Ranges economy generating more than 2700 jobs but stated the economic impact of the proposed GFNP “is in question” because it would need to generate tourist numbers well above the 500,000 who visit each year NOW. All the ecotourism activities being proposed by the GFNP proposal can be achieved with our present magnificent National Parks and State Forest systems in the Yarra Ranges and without the creation of a Great Forest National Park. ‘The proposed park would have little impact on the outcomes of the Yarra Ranges Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy or its Recreation and Open Space Strategy beyond the impact that is generated by the existing Parks and/or State Forests.

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Council's decision to commission a report by an independent external consultant on the ‘Great Forest National Park’ proposal.
Yarra Ranges Council meeting minutes 13th October 2015.

Great Forest National Park Assesment Report