PROPOSED river red gum parks along the Murray are set to burden floodplain farmers with fencing costs and isolated farm infrastructure.
Under new state legislation, farmers will need to phase out grazing from river frontages by 2014 to make way for expanded river red gum parks.
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Farmers recently learned their water frontage licences would become parks when they received letters from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
The new parks are a result of a three-year investigation and community consultation by the Victorian Environment Assessment Council on river red gum woodlands.
Murray River Action Group chairman Ian Lobban said northern floodplain farmers had been left "shocked and distressed" by the decision to phase out grazing.
Mr Lobban said landholders had been led to believe grazing would continue on crown water frontages.
He said frontages between Lake Hume and Lake Mulwala were not disclosed on VEAC maps during the review process.
Landholders have called on Environment, Climate Change and Innovation minister Gavin Jennings to halt survey work on floodplain properties.
More than 60 landholders aired concerns at a recent public meeting called by the Murray River Action Group.
Mr Jennings has agreed to meet with group representatives this month.
A spokesman for the minister said said Parks Victoria would work with landholders to assess boundary fencing, with assistance determined on a case-by-case basis.
"Parks Victoria will discuss alternative watering arrangements with landholders who adjoin the parks," he said.
