Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance

The Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance is a group opposing the creation of five new national parks, which were proposed by the Victorian Environment Assessment Council for the protection of the red gum forests along the Murray River.

A spokesman for the group, Max Rheese, claimed in a letter to the editor that the "currently has 18 organisations that include local shires and community groups with direct representation of 74 000 people." (Rheese is also the Executive Director of the Australian Environment Foundation, a group created by the Institute of Public Affairs). A few days later an ABC Rural news story stated that one of the groups supporting the alliance was the Victorian Farmers Federation.

In December 2007 and January 2008 the alliance distributed a brochure stating that "many people mistakenly believe that National Parks are always a good thing. But tell those people that they cannot camp or walk their dog in areas they have been using for the last 20 years and you will get their attention".

Supporters
On its website, the Alliance lists "supporters" as including:
 * Australian Deer Association
 * Australian Environment Foundation
 * Field and Game Australia
 * NSW Forest Products Association
 * Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia (Victoria)
 * Victorian Association of Forest Industries
 * Timber Communities Australia
 * VRFish
 * Wakool Shire
 * Murray River Action Group

Contact Details
Phone: 03 5762 1068 Website: http://www.rrgea.org/?file=home