Great Outdoors Taskforce

To inform the future use and management of Victoria’s forest estate, a new Great Outdoors Taskforce has been established.

The Taskforce will make recommendations to government to ensure shared benefits for all Victorians – focusing on building regional economies, maximising tourism and recreation opportunities while also ensuring forest values are protected for future generations.

This includes:
- identifying opportunities to protect the environment and support recreational, social and economic outcomes.
- identifying opportunities for Traditional Owner management,
- identifying areas of state forest where recommendations can be made now, and
- advising on where more partnership and engagement work needs to be done.

The Taskforce is different to the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement that has been engaging with Victorians on the future management and uses of the Central Highlands, Strathbogie Ranges and Mirboo North state forests.

As part of this work, the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council will be conducting scientific values assessments of the area to support understanding of forest values. The Taskforce will also seek economic, recreation and cultural values assessments. These are all just some of the many inputs the Taskforce will consider in making its recommendations.

Traditional Owner partnerships

Work is underway with Traditional Owners to allow each relevant Traditional Owner Group to determine its involvement, while ensuring the statewide interests of Aboriginal Victorians are considered.

A Traditional Owner partnerships approach will be developed that includes considerations for Traditional Owner involvement in the Taskforce, configuration of the Taskforce for matters relating to Country, and relevant knowledge sharing forums to support this work.

Assessment area

The Taskforce will consider 1.8 million hectares of state forests previously managed for timber harvesting – the largest single public land assessment ever undertaken in Victoria.

It will also consider relevant adjacent state forests, where assessment of these areas supports a Cultural Landscapes approach for Traditional Owners or will help with management continuity.

State forests in the Central Highlands area, as well as the Strathbogie Ranges and Mirboo North are being considered by the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement and are not a focus of the Taskforce.

More information about engagement opportunities for the Great Outdoors Taskforce will be provided soon.

Members

Lisa Neville, Chairperson

Lisa Neville has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Great Outdoors Taskforce.

Lisa has significant experience in leadership and was Victoria’s first female Minister for Police and first Minister for Mental Health. Lisa has also been Minister for Police and Emergency Services; Community Services; Community Services; Senior Victorians; Aged Care; and Children.

In her role as a Water Minister, Lisa was a fierce advocate for the water portfolio working sensitively and respectfully with Traditional Owners to recognise their deep and ongoing connection to land, water and resources.

Lisa has also formerly served as a member for Bellarine in the Victorian Legislative Assembly for 20 years. In this role, Lisa represented the diverse regional communities in the electorate.

Karen Cain, Member

Karen is the current Chair of the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement that is conducting engagement in the Central Highlands.

Karen has significant senior experience working across government, leading strategic innovation, and developing and implementing policy in the public sector.

Karen was previously appointed as Chief Executive Officer at the Latrobe Valley Authority, as well as Director Community Transition Forestry with the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions.

Melissa Wood, Member

Mellissa is the current chair of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and member of the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement.

Mellissa has over 30 years’ experience in leading and providing scientific and strategic advice on sustainable development, resource and environmental management; food, land and water systems; and their interconnectedness.

Graeme Dear, Member

Graeme is the current Board Chair of the Victorian Fisheries Authority and has served as an Independent Director for Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC).

Graeme has significant experience spanning 30 years across the Private and Public Sector in fisheries practice, administration, research and policy.

Terry Robinson, Member

Terry is the current Chief Executive Officer of Destination Gippsland. In this role, Terry provides leadership to the Gippsland visitor economy.

With over 20 years of experience Terry has extensive knowledge of the tourism industry in Gippsland and has built significant relationships across the Victorian Tourism Industry. Terry has a strong interest in economic and community development in Gippsland.