INVESTMENT in the Grampians Peaks Trail is in doubt after a bill to reduce Grampians National Park’s lease from 99 years to 21 years passed through the legislative assembly on Thursday.
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The National Park Amendment will reduce lease time for national parks from 99 years to 21 years.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said while the coalition did not oppose the bill, she believed reducing the 99-year leases would reduce the opportunity for private investment to the Grampians National Park.
She said the amendment would reduce opportunities to invest in the Grampians Peak Trail, which would be important to the economy and tourism in the region. The first stage of the trail opened in May.
“If we get the Grampians Peaks Trail right, it has an economic benefit that we need to maximise,” Ms Kealy said.
“If the state government is honest about helping out country Victoria, it needs to make sure that private investment is able to go ahead.
“We do not want to see big casinos – we want to see a string of huts for accommodation and restaurants. This will not be able to go ahead if we remove 99-year leases.”
Parks Victoria’s trail prospectus said the project would include hiker lodges and off-park accommodation, provided by the private sector. “This is an essential part of the master plan and is one of the selling points of the Grampians Peaks Trail,” Ms Kealy said.
The prospectus discusses the importance of private investment to ensure the full benefit of the trail is reached.
“We need to make sure we get private investment so we can build things like a five-star restaurant at Lake Wartook,” Ms Kealy said.
“In order to attract an investor, they need security – they are not going to inject money into an essential component like the Grampians Peak Trail if they don’t have a return on investment.”
Grampians Tourism also opposed the amendment.
Chief executive Will Flamsteed said private investment meant job generation for western Victoria and tourism sector growth.