A Proposal for a 30,000 hectare National Park, 1998, can be viewed here 

In 1998, South Gippslanders worked out a way to enlarge the reserve system to 30,000 hectares, bringing the proportion of land in reserve to a much healthier 10% of the total Strzelecki Ranges bioregion. The national park would link the forest from Turtons Creek in the west to beyond Tarra-Bulga in the east, as well as including outlying but significant areas. The proposal struck a chord in the Gippsland community which was aware of the lack of conservation in the Strzeleckis.

The proposal is supported by:  The Society for Growing Australian Plants, the South Gippsland Conservation Society, the Mount Best Concerned Residents Association, the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists, the Strzelecki Hills Branch ALP, Wonthaggi/Bass Branch ALP, Friends of the Tarra-Bulga National Park, Friends of Morwell National Park, Friends of the Gippsland Bush; SOS Save Our Strzeleckis Forest, Prom Coast Tourism, Foster Community Association, Mount Eliza Association for Environmental Care, Friends of Gunyah Reserve(s) and on a state level Environment Victoria, Greening Australia, Greens Party, and the Victorian National Parks Association. 

A 7,000 signature petition in favour of the national park proposal was tabled in the Victorian Parliament by Susan Davies, Member for Gippsland West. 

Greens Senator Bob Brown and international conservation expert, Dr. David Bellamy, lent their support.  

The Gippsland Local Government Network has acknowledged the need for a greater reserve system in the Strzelecki forests.  Included in their major objectives is the creation of a major tourism asset in the form of an enlarged park system in the Strzelecki Ranges (from GLGN 'Memorandum of Understanding, Action Plan 1999-2000). 

The Nature Conservation Review 2001 (Traill & Porter) confirmed the need for further reservation in the Strzeleckis. The report recommended a major new park system be established “to ensure protection of the remaining biodiversity of the wet and damp eucalypt forests and cool temperate rainforests of the regions”.  The lack of reserves in the Strzeleckis was acknowledged “… the wetter forests of the Strzelecki Ranges Bioregion stand out as a forested bioregion requiring special attention due to the high level of threatened Ecological Vegetation Classes and very poor reservation”.Given the fragmented status of the bioregion, the report set reserve targets at 16% of the bioregion (45,000 hectares).

In 2016 the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning held a public meeting in Mirboo North to discuss the impending hand back of some of the public forest. The community passed a motion insisting that the reserve be made a national park.

"This meeting proposes permanent protection of the Strzelecki Ranges Forest (formerly referred to as "cores and links", final name to be decided). Sections should be progressively gazetted as National Park as soon as possible, with the process finalised by 2028."