Apologies for the no-spaces thread topic; it's got a character length limit and the full title wouldn't fit.

Full title would have read "Urgent - Petition to stop Commercial development of Victoria's National Parks, e.g. the Prom, Otways (e.g. Blanket Bay), Point Nepean (e.g Quarantine Station), etc."

Yep, the Napthine government is currently debating legislation to throw open Victoria's National Parks to commercial development on "99-year leases".

Apparently this has happened twice before in times past, and has luckily been defeated both times.

The VNPA are running a petition against this legislation, and there's only a few days of debating in Parliament left, so if you want to sign the petition, you need to do it pronto. Apologies for the urgency - only just discovered the urgency of the situation myself recently.

You can sign onto the petition here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/han ... parks.html

There's also a list of reasons why this legislation is a bad idea at the VNPA's webpage here: http://vnpa.org.au/page/nature-conserva ... -our-parks

Personally I don't want to see any further development down at the Prom - there's cabins and huts in Tidal River already if you're after something more solid than a tent to stay in.

And there's plenty of brick's 'n mortar accomodation in the townships around the Park if you're after something yet more substantial (and what's more, if a hotel gets built those townships stand to lose business that they currently survive on - wonder what'll happen with Fish Creek pub if a fancy hotel in Tidal River can offer similiar meals (as part of a hotel room package or even just to regular campers) for tourists going to/from the Prom?).

I don't see a need for a whacking great hotel to get built down there.

And as for development in the Otways Park - how'd you feel if some huge hotel was set up at Blanket Bay or one of your other favourite spots down there?

Or at the Quarantine Station at Point Nepean?

Even if for no other reason, what do you think it'll do to the place dive/crowd-wise?

The petition's out there - it's up to you what you want to do; just thought I should bring it to SFD's users attention.

Cheers.