A PLAN to make the Dandenong Ranges part of a new state park to protect Victoria's endangered flora and fauna has received cross-party political support.

The latest move comes after years of lobbying, most notably through Monbulk MP James Merlino.

The previous Labor State Government had given a pre-election commitment to the creation of a State Emblem's Park as put forward by the Woori Yallock Creek Park Alliance, a collection of Yellingbo conservation groups.

The group wanted to bring natural habitat in Woori Yallock, Emerald, Sassafras, Menzies and Cockatoo creeks, the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Kurth Kiln Regional Park, Warramate Hills Nature Conservation Reserve and Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve into one state park.

The Coalition Government has now enacted the next stage in the plan - an investigation into public land in the vicinity of the Yellingbo Conservation Reserve.

Two weeks ago the State Government gave the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) 18 months to carry out an investigation on the best way to manage the land and protect the critical habitat.

Gembrook MP Brad Battin said VEAC would be looking at opportunities for about 3250 hectares of public land east of the Dandenong Ranges.

“This work will build on the great efforts of conservation already being achieved in the Yellingbo Conservation Reserve Area, providing information on ways we can further protect the area's natural assets and identifying more options to reduce threats to vulnerable species.”

Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater's Bob Anderson and Johns Hill Landcare Group and Friends of Meander member Jeff Latter played a large part in coordinating the project, which was first discussed with Monbulk MP James Merlino in 2006.

Mr Merlino has continued to advocate for the state emblems park, and brought up the matter in Parliament again in March.

“We need to ensure that our state emblems survive and flourish,” he said.

The pink heath is the floral emblem of Victoria, the Leadbeater's possum is the state's fauna emblem and the helmeted honeyeater is the bird emblem.

Mr Anderson said the alliance would now wait for VEAC's report, but members were “quietly confident”.

“We've had support from many state departments and organisations and there are a great number of local conservation groups involved,” he said.

Mr Anderson said the purpose of the scheme was not to acquire land.

“We don't want to scare farmers that we're after land, it's about managing Crown Land that may not have been managed in the past,” he said.

Mr Anderson has said a state park would be the “natural progression” of what the groups had already achieved, and linking the areas would allow for better management and eco tourism.