New parks in Central West Victoria

In 2021 the government announced that it would create 3 national parks, 2 conservation parks, and 7 new and expanded regional parks in the state’s central west – this includes the Wombat-Lerderderg National Park covering more than 44,000 hectares between Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.

The parks will protect important, connected habitat which will benefit many of Victoria’s threatened species, while ensuring that opportunities for all existing recreational activities are supported across the region.

The Victorian Government is creating the new parks in accordance with its response to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC’s) Central West Investigation Final Report.

Legislation to create the first 6 parks was introduced into parliament on 10 September 2025. This comprises the Wombat-Lerderderg, Pyrenees and Mount Buangor national parks, the Cobaw and Hepburn conservation parks, and an addition to the existing Bendigo Regional Park. The parks are expected to be created by October 2026, at the latest.

These parks are being created on the Countries of the Dja Dja Wurrung, Eastern Maar, Wadawurrung, Wurundjeri and Taungurung peoples.

Wombat-Lerderderg National Park

• The Wombat-Lerderderg National Park (approximately 44,000 hectares) is made up of the approximately 20,000 hectare existing Lerderderg State Park (45% of the new park) and approximately 24,000 hectares of the Wombat State Forest (55% of the new park).
• The creation of the national park will give added protection to this important natural and culturally significant area.
• The existing Lerderderg State Park will be essentially unchanged when it becomes part of the national park.

What changes will there be to recreational uses?

• Most existing recreational activities will be able to continue in the new national park.
• Recreational pest hunting will not be permitted in the new national park. However, seasonal recreational deer hunting (by stalking) will be able to continue in the areas of the park that are currently State Forest, between 1 May and the start of the September school holidays.
• Recreational prospecting will not be permitted in the new national park (including in the area of the existing Lerderderg State Park where it is currently not permitted). However, the government is creating a smaller Wombat-Lerderderg National Park than what was recommended by VEAC to provide an additional 4855-hectare Barkstead Regional Park where opportunities for recreational prospecting will be provided.

Pyrenees National Park

• The Pyrenees National Park (approximately 15,000 hectares) is made up of the approximately 4,400-hectare Landsborough and Landsborough Hill nature conservation reserves and 10,600 hectares of the Pyrenees State Forest.
• The national park comprises relatively undisturbed mixed species forests with extensive patches of mature eucalypts. The park will protect populations of the highly restricted Pyrenees gum among many other threatened species.

What changes will there be to recreational uses?

• Most existing recreational activities will be able to continue in the new national park.
• Recreational pest hunting will not be permitted in the new national park. However, seasonal recreational deer hunting (by stalking) will be able to continue in the areas of the park that are currently State Forest, between 1 May and the start of the September school holidays.
• Recreational prospecting will not be permitted in the new national park, however there are numerous State forests, regional parks, bushland and historic reserves near the new park where this activity is supported.

Mount Buangor National Park

• The Mount Buangor National Park (approximately 5,300 hectares) is made up of the approximately 2,500 hectare existing Mount Buangor State Park (47% of the new park) and 2,800 hectares of Mount Cole State Forest (53% of the new park).
• The creation of the national park will give added protection to this important natural and culturally significant area.
• The existing Mount Buangor State Park will be essentially unchanged when it becomes part of the national park.

What changes will there be to recreational uses?

• Most existing recreational activities will be able to continue in the new national park.
• Recreational pest hunting will not be permitted in the new national park. However, seasonal recreational deer hunting (by stalking) will be permitted in the areas of the park that are currently State Forest, between 1 May and the start of the September school holidays. Additionally, as part of the legislation to create the parks, the Mount Cole Game Sanctuary is being revoked to provide additional opportunities for recreational deer hunting in the adjoining Mount Cole State Forest.
• Recreational prospecting will not be permitted in the new national park (including in the area of the existing Mount Buangor State Park where it is currently not permitted). However, there are numerous State forests, regional parks, bushland and historic reserves near the new park where this activity is supported.

Cobaw Conservation Park

• The Cobaw Conservation Park comprises the 2532-hectare Cobaw State Forest north-west of Lancefield.
• The park will protect the habitat of many woodland birds and threatened species within a largely cleared landscape, and is an important ecological link between central west Victoria and the eastern highlands.

What changes will there be to recreational uses?

• Recreational prospecting and recreational hunting will not be permitted in the conservation park, however all other recreational activities will be able to continue.

Hepburn Conservation Park

• The Hepburn Conservation Park comprises 2700 hectares of the Wombat State Forest north-west of Hepburn Springs.
• The park contains high natural values including records of the threatened brush-tailed phascogale.

What changes will there be to recreational uses?

• Recreational prospecting and recreational hunting will not be permitted in the conservation park, however all other recreational activities will be able to continue.

Bendigo Regional Park

• The approximately 7,100-hectare Wellsford State Forest will be added to the existing Bendigo Regional Park.
• The addition will enhance the existing regional park, which provides a wide range of recreational activities in a natural setting close to Bendigo.

What changes will there be to recreational uses?

• Most existing recreational activities except recreational hunting will be able to continue in the addition to Bendigo Regional Park.
• The government is creating a larger addition to the Bendigo Regional Park than was recommended by VEAC (which recommended part of the area be added to the Greater Bendigo National Park). This was to retain opportunities for recreational prospecting in the park, and to allow for domestic firewood collection (from designated sites) until June 2029.

Recreational opportunities

A guide to the activities that are generally allowed in the new park areas

*Recreational prospecting is available in the nearby Hepburn Regional Park, and the proposed Barkstead, Blackwood, Fingerpost and Spargo Creek regional parks, as well as state forests, bushland reserves and historic reserves across the region.

^Recreational prospecting is available in the nearby Mount Cole, Mount Lonarch, Musical Gully-Camp Hill, Pyrenees and Trawalla Andrews state forests, as well as regional parks, bushland reserves and historic reserves across the region.