The VLA is holding an invitation only forum on public land management issues involving stakeholders from government, commercial and recreational users to discuss the best way forward for our public land into the future.

This public land management plan will include the Alpine, Baw Baw, Mt. Buffalo, Errinundra and Snowy River National Parks as well as the Avon Wilderness Park, Walhalla and adjacent historic parks.  The total area covered by these public lands is 860,000 hectares. 

You can have input into the development process of this critical public land management plan .

Parks Victoria have provided an online discussion portal which allows members of the public to view relevant documents and make comment on aspects they consider relevant for inclusion in these public land management plans.

You can have your say and help guide the future of Victorias parks for our children and generations to come. 

Follow the link www.weplan.parks.vic.gov.au and create an account for yourself by clicking the 'create account' button.  Then click the 'knowledge' tab on the very top row of selection tabs.  This will take you to the discussion papers/comment strings so you can become involved.  There are numerous topics that you can be involved in discussion on.  Simply click the topic you have interest in.  This will open up a window that offers you access to all the relevant information on this topic.  It will also allow you to participate in the discussion on this topic.  To add your own ideas/thoughts just click the 'discuss' button and then the 'edit' button follow the instructions and type away...make sure that you sign your posts (instructions on how to do this are included).

Public involvement in this important process is crucial.   The Lands Alliance urges all those who have a stake in recreation/employment on these areas of public land to be involved in the process of determining how it will be managed.

The VLA has been invited to participate in the roundtable on prescribed burning and attended the first meeting on November 17th 2009.

The first task will be to understand the concerns of all stakeholder groups with regard to prescribed burning and bring about a framework that allows for consistent fuel reduction on public land.

VLA has sent a submission to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission to highlight the inadequacies of the current management of public land with regard to fire.

Community groups are becoming increasingly concerned about their own community's safety with regards to potential bushfires.  VLA is currently assisting a number of these groups who are concerned with fire management in their local areas.

If your community would like assistance or advice on how to raise community awareness of fire or public land management issues go to the contact page and contact us.

Part of the work of the VLA is raise public awareness of issues that are happening within the community.  On the 18th March in Melbourne, respected bushfire researcher, Roger Underwood presented the following paper.