RESIDENTS of Woods Point, one of Mansfield Shire's most outlying communities, have expressed concerns about two key issues affecting them: a state government proposal to convert nearby state forest into national park and the ongoing remediation of the Morning Star mine site.

The park proposal, put forward by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC), has aims to transform several state forests in Victoria's Central Highlands into protected national parks.

This plan is part of a broader vision similar to the Great Forest National Park proposal, which seeks to connect over 500,000 hectares of Victorian forest.

The Eminent Panel for Community Engagement are reported to have led public consultations on this proposal, with recommendations initially expected in June.

Tony Rugys, a local resident and former CFA captain, highlighted the potential impact of the national park proposal on Woods Point.

He raised concerns about the management of wild dogs and the loss of essential services and activities, saying that aerial culling and not removing but leaving carcasses has seen a huge increase in the wild dog population.

"I saw a stag outside my window when I woke one morning,” said Mr Rugys.

“When a deer comes to my place for shelter, there's a problem."

"Then I saw a big dog take off up the spur, and I knocked it halfway up.

“Later on, I went to move it off the track, and the dog had been torn apart by its own brother.”

Mr Rugys indicated this change in wild dog behaviour was concerning and depending on how brazen they got, could be dangerous to children within surrounding townships.

He also mentioned potential issues with the coordination between different agencies, bushfire mitigation, and the ability to collect firewood.

“Parks Victoria don’t talk to DEECA; they don’t tell each other what they’re doing,” he said.

“Locking up the area as a national park means DEECA can’t maintain fire breaks.

“Woods Point’s a place where electricity is unreliable; it went out 44 days last year, full days, not for ten minutes.

“We can’t rely on electric heating, we have to have firewood.”

Mr Rugys said that changing surrounding state forest (which has designated firewood collection areas) to national park (which does not) would significantly affect the community.

He also felt that Woods Point was being left out of important discussions.

"They tried to keep it as hush-hush as possible,” Mr Rugys said.

“Woods Point wasn’t even invited to any sort of consultation or engagement; there should have been a town meeting.

“I’ve rung up politicians – Cindy McLeish has been excellent, but Helen Haines hasn’t visited once in the two terms she’s been in office, whereas Sophie Mirabella used to come here at least two times per year, and Bill Sykes used to come up on a regular basis."

Mr Rugys also warned about the broader implications of the national park designation.

"It not only means no firewood, but no seasonal hunting, fishing, four wheel driving, and if you take that away and allow people to only camp in designated areas - our main lot of people come from Pakenham and Gippsland areas, and they spend millions on vehicles and camper trailers,” said Mr Rugys.

“They reckon it’s going to bring in 20,000 workers or whatever; it’s a load of crap, and it’s going to cost areas like ours multi-millions."

Mr Rugys further criticised the approach taken by Parks Victoria.

"When Parks come through, they never really stop,” he said.

“It’s a bureaucrat at a desk in Melbourne looking at a map.

“With a tick of a pen, they can add another restriction; they don’t need permission.

“You look at that, the Mansfield Hospital, we have no ambulance now in Woods Point now; we’ve got all these issues already, we don’t need the state government throwing more at us."

Stacks on: another problem to deal with

WOODS Point’s worries were compounded recently when Ian McLeod from the state government's Earth Resources Regulator hosted a drop-in information session for local residents.

The session aimed to provide information about the remediation of the former Morning Star mine site, which closed in March 2023 and currently requires work to ensure the area’s safety.

"The mine hasn’t been fully rehabilitated," Mr McLeod explained.

"We are responsible for remediating the site and addressing risks.

“We’re mainly concerned with public safety; we don’t want anyone falling down a shaft.

“But there are other risks we think need to be addressed, contamination risks, and there may be others.

“So that’s our role, to identify those risks and address them.”

Mr McLeod also touched on the longer-term possibilities for the site.

"There’s a lot of things that could happen with that site,” he said.

“It depends a lot on what the community wants for the area.

“Our role is addressing those risks.

“In the long term, we might put suggestions forward and propose scenarios, but for a different end use, that would need to go through a council planning process,” said Mr McLeod, deferring to Mayor Cr Steve Rabie in the audience, who'd made the drive from Mansfield to attend the session and speak with the (approximately) 20 locals in attendance at the Commercial Hotel.

Mr McLeod went on to explain the department's responsibilities.

"The department is responsible for compliance of mining and quarrying, and also for giving licences for formalising that process,” he continued.

“To protect the area, what the department has done is put a section seven exemption over the site, meaning the area is temporarily exempt from mining operations.”

An audience member asked if the mining licence handed back included the exploration licence as well.

"Can’t say for sure, but I imagine it is," Mr McLeod replied.

Tony Rugys asked if the items stripped from the site could be put into a mining museum rather than sold for scrap.

“We can’t say yes or no, but I can see merit in what you’re suggesting," Mr McLeod replied.

“The best thing to do is to send us an email.

“What you’re suggesting there is beyond the work we’re currently doing."

Mr McLeod went on to say that one asset had already been removed and sold to a small mine in central NSW.

An info-less session and an uncertain future

REECE Collins, a local to the area, questioned the purpose of the information session.

"What’s the point of coming here and telling us stuff when you have nothing to tell us?” he said.

“Part of the resources and sustainability act says leaseholders have to engage with the community.

“Now they’re land managers, they’re engaging with us, but they have no information to give us.

“It’s a check box."

Mr Collins went on to provide a broader overview of the situation.

"It was only a small mine and not a big employer of locals, but it certainly has made a dint locally," he said.

"Accommodation businesses have seen less business because there are fewer miners."

Mr Collins explained the different licences involved.

“Morning Star had two major mining licences (since relinquished), and an exploration licence that stretched roughly from Jamieson to Walhalla, made up of multiple parcels," he said.

“Assuming they relinquished that as well, that opens the area for other companies to come in and apply for an exploration licence with a view to a mining licence.”

Mr Collins raised concerns about the impact of the national park proposal on future mining opportunities, something that historically has been a lifeblood of the area, with the larger nearby A1 mine site near neighbouring Gaffney’s Creek still a going concern and large employer in the area.

"There are thousands of examples of gold outcropping historically in the area,” he said.

“What effect will this national park have?

“I doubt they’ll let mining happen there.

“I read a study with a section that’s identified potential gold inground reserves that national park’s may remove the ability to get exploration licences."

The state government has said that no decision has been made on the future use of state forest in the Central Highlands and that conversations from community engagement sessions will form part of the panel's recommendation to the government.

Mr Collins questioned the effectiveness of the government’s community consultation process.

"State government community consultation often occurs after something has been decided,” he said.

“That’s been my experience, and maybe I’m wrong, but there are already groups tasked with action plans for the national park.

“That doesn’t happen unless it’s been approved."