A recommendation for regular over-thebank flooding has been dropped from the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council's final report but the recommendation for the end of logging in the Barmah State Forest remains a key plank of the plan to create five new national parks.

Releasing the report in Shepparton last Friday, VEAC chairman Duncan Malcolm said significant changes including a softening of the recommendations on camping, campfires and domestic firewood demonstrated that people have been heard.

"There was certainly a perception put around when the draft report came out that we didn't listen and that we wouldn't listen, that was always a wrong perception," Mr Malcolm said.

Key changes from the draft report include:

The dropping of the 4000 Gl figure needed every five years to maintain floodplain ecosystems in favour of detailed mapping and `soft' engineering to enable micro management of areas based on need and availability of water.

The timber industry to continue in Gunbower, Benwell and Guttram state forests, but cease in other forests to enable the creation of national parks including Barmah.

New incentives and priority setting to remove grazing from public land and creation of a new licence category to enable licensees to have a `conservation stewardship' role along public land water frontages.

Dispersed camping at self selected bush sites to remain the predominant form of camping in all riverine parks.

Campfires and associated collection of firewood to be allowed outside the fire danger period.

Adding areas to the Murray River Park and Shepparton Regional Park to provide additional areas for camping with dogs.

Providing more areas for collection of domestic firewood.

Mr Malcolm said many of the changes were the result of lobbying after the release of the draft report.

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