Thursday, 28 November 2024

Western Victoria Region

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (14:18): How very generous of you, Acting President. My constituency question for the Minister for Environment concerns the devastating impact of the Mount Arapiles management plan on Natimuk. The loss of local medics, teachers and other professionals who moved to Natimuk to be close to the crags will be incalculable. Tourism will be devastated, and not just hospitality. Open Spaces Publishing has sold 140,000 climbing guides over 30 years. Devastated owner Glenn Tempest announced its closure last week. He wrote to the Premier:

[QUOTES AWAITING VERIFICATION]

I cannot even put into words just how gutted this makes me feel. Mount Arapiles has been part of my life for 50 years. It changed my life and the lives of possibly hundreds of thousands of others.

He told me:

The despair felt across Natimuk is beyond words. Our beautiful little town is on the front line of an attack on our rights to access public lands.

Minister, will you match the coalition’s commitment to reverse this senseless attack?