What it does
The National Parks Act 1975 (Vic) is the foundational statute governing the establishment, protection, and management of Victoria's protected areas. Its core function, articulated in the preamble and s 4, is to reserve and preserve Crown land characterised by unspoilt landscapes, flora, fauna, and scientific features for perpetual public benefit. Section 4 enumerates objects including the preservation of natural environments and wilderness (s 4(a)(i)), protection of indigenous species and features of scenic, archaeological, ecological, geological, historic or scientific interest (s 4(a)(ii)), ecological study (s 4(a)(iii)), and responsible land management (s 4(a)(iv)). Additional objects address designated water supply catchment areas (s 4(aa)), wilderness parks (s 4(ab)), landscape conservation areas (s 4(ac)), and Schedule Three parks that permit limited primary industry or hunting where consistent with conservation (s 4(b)).
The Act operates through a tripartite structure. Part I contains preliminary provisions, including an expansive definitions section (s 3) that imports meanings from at least fifteen companion statutes (e.g. "authorised officer" from the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987, "marine national park" by reference to Sch 7). Part II establishes administrative machinery: the National Parks Advisory Council (s 10), management agreements with Traditional Owner Land Management Boards (s 16A), and, since 2021, the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (Part IIA, ss 16C–16F). Part III is the operational heart, declaring specific parks by reference to Schedules Two (national and state parks, s 17), Two A (wilderness parks, s 17A), Seven (marine national parks, s 17D), Eight (marine sanctuaries, s 17D), and Nine (landscape conservation areas, s 17E). Management duties are assigned primarily to Parks Victoria (s 17(2), s 19B), subject to ministerial oversight (s 19) and consultation obligations (e.g. with managing water authorities under s 17(3)).