No, the Victorian government is not introducing new fines for park use

Once completed, the government's changes will streamline the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) powers to determine which activities are permitted, restricted or prohibited in regional and metropolitan parks. The department says there are no plans to ban swimming or bushwalking where it is already permitted. 

Matt Ruchel, executive director of the Victoria National Parks Association (VNPA), told RMIT FactLab "the fines do exist, but they are nothing new" as they are already in existing legislation. 

For example, the Daily Mail’s claim that “Victorians must not fill up [refuel] a chainsaw while collecting firewood unless the chainsaw is on an impermeable surface” already applies in the current regulations cited on the Victorian government website. 

Victorian regional and metropolitan parks are managed under the Crown Land Act 1978. 

Mr Ruchel said the proposed changes seek to “consolidate” current park regulations into a single regulatory document. This includes helping to “align regulations” with existing laws that protect Aboriginal heritage, wildlife and firewood access and provide for technological changes such as drones and e-bikes not covered in existing regulations.

“The new regulations are certainly not impinging on public rights,” said Mr Ruchel. “In my experience they [regulations] are used sparingly, sort of residual powers to encourage appropriate behaviours and often linked to other management strategies.” 

A DEWLP spokesperson told RMIT FactLab, “The proposed regulation changes simply intend to modernise and consolidate existing regulations and allow for better management of our parks, including replacing the outdated Crown Land Regulations which relate to a smaller number of parks. 

“They have all been drafted to support current activities and will only be used to restrict an activity when necessary to protect biodiversity, regenerating habitat, sensitive cultural heritage or as a public safety precaution.” 

"The regulations do not restrict any activities that are currently allowed. People can still climb, bushwalk, swim and enjoy Victoria's public land in the exact same [way] they have been previously,” a DEWLP spokesperson told the ABC. 

Activities will only be restricted or prohibited for specific reasons such as protecting cultural heritage and biodiversity, or for public safety. 

Swimming is already prohibited in metropolitan parks, but will continue to be permitted in regional parks where it is currently allowed.

The proposed changes can be found at the Engage Victoria website. Public consultation is now closed with the government expected to release the new set of proposed changes soon.

_{Thumbnail photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.}