Staff
In anticipation of another hot, dry summer, ten seasonal fire crew have commenced in Halls Gap. These trained seasonal fire-fighters are part of the District team made up of other seasonal fire-fighters based at Horsham, Cavendish, Wail and Edenhope.
Many of the local crew have worked successive seasons in Halls Gap. They have been busy working on pre season fire preparedness works such as fire-line clearing and township protection surrounding Halls Gap and Pomonal.
The Parks Victoria fire recovery staff who commenced work in October are making great progress on the Mackeys Peak to Pinnacle Track. The crew have been busy with tree risk work, creating the new track and have so far completed the construction of 220 stone steps. The crew, which also comprises quite a few familiar faces, are working towards completing the track by Autumn 2009.
Our Summer Ranger Lauren Young started work in Halls Gap on Monday 1st December. Lauren will be with us for three months providing very welcome assistance to the team over the busy summer period.
Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Reintroduction
Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies were reintroduced into the Grampians National Park on 12th November, in a trial bid to save the critically endangered species from extinction in Victoria. The 10 Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies will create a second Victorian wild population in addition to the small colony of 20 animals that still exist in remote East Gippsland.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby was once found in rocky gorges across south-eastern Australia. Its decline is largely due to historical hunting for the fur trade, habitat clearing and predation from the red fox. The release site chosen within the Grampians National Park provides excellent habitat, including rocky ledges and cliffs and plentiful food that is essential to the survival of the species.
The extensive trial preparations were based on internationally recognised research and had included a large predator control program within the park. The wallabies are being monitored in the park using radio collars and remote surveillance cameras. Potential predators such as red foxes will also continue to be controlled.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby recovery program involves several partner organisations, including the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria and has been significantly supported by sponsor donations. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (ACT), Adelaide Zoo and the University of Adelaide (SA), Healesville Sanctuary and Dunkeld Pastoral Company (Vic) and Waterfall Springs (NSW) were involved in breeding and preparing the wallabies for release.
The trial reintroduction is a critical step in the recovery program. It will be considered successful if the wallabies breed in the wild and the species is secured in the Grampians National Park.
Unfortunately a sub-adult male was killed on Wednesday 26th November when an extremely large slab of rock collapsed in the cave in which it was sheltering. Although the Grampians team are naturally extremely disappointed they are confident that the trial reintroduction remains on track.
Grampians National Park Roads
The Parks Victoria road team have completed resurfacing and drainage works on Glenelg River Road and have also completed resurfacing 500 metres along the Serra Road. Three sets of culverts on Glenelg River Road and one set of culverts on Asses Ears Road have been installed to help prevent the road from flooding after heavy rain. The team would like to advise visitors and the community that some roads in the park are becoming corrugated and dusty, particularly Mt Zero Road. Maintenance work will be undertaken on these roads as soon as we receive enough rain to grade the surface. For further Information on roads in the Park contact Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre phone 5361 4000.
Flat Rock Walking Track Working Bee
Saturday 22nd November was a very wet and blustery day but that didn’t stop an enthusiastic group of volunteers from the Victorian Climbing Club and the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club from completing their planned works. Using funds from a PV Community Group Grant and a generous donation from a Natimuk local the group managed to repair or add a total of 32 rough sawn red gum timber and rock steps to tracks in the area of Flat Rock. The group contributed around 140 hours effort despite the inclement weather.
Consultation with VCC
Recently Parks Victoria has received feedback from concerned park neighbours about the development of a climbing site in a remote area in the northern end of the Grampians. The development has resulted in the placement of numerous bolts by climbers. Park staff have consulted with the Victorian Climbing Club and are considering various strategies for dealing with this issue and the probable interest by climbers in other sites in the Park. Clearly there needs to be greater communication with rock climbers about the proper use and protection of the Park. An immediate action in this instance in the northern Grampians is to prohibit vehicle access along a boundary track adjoining the site.
Graham Parkes