The Grampians National Park continues to implement post flood recovery works across all areas of the business including Assets, Natural Values, Cultural Values and Tourism. To date much of our effort and energy has been spent in maintaining the areas of the Park remaining accessible to a safe and appropriate standard for the increased and concentrated visitor numbers. A great example of this is the Mt Zero Rd (Bolte Hwy) which has had unprecedented attention over the past 4 months. Credit must go to the roading crew including Graeme Scherger, John Rudolph and Nick Scott who have spent their fair share of time on the road since the initial event.
During the months of June and July 2011, our focus will be on re-opening the public road network within the Victoria Valley and Victoria Range, with traffic restrictions in place due to ongoing maintenance needs. This will allow local and visitor traffic to utilise areas of the National Park that were previously damaged through flooding impacts.
Our walking track network is also an area of activity with an ever increasing work force being engaged to repair, reinstate and reopen areas affected. Our priorities at present revolve around the central area of the park with the base of MacKenzies Falls and the Wonderland Precinct critical for us to make progress on.
The recent visit of Ross Cayley was a highlight for those who attended his presentation of Geology within the Grampians – especially in the post flood landscape. It was great to see a mix of staff, volunteers and locals taking an interest in this particular area of expertise.
Finally, it was a great experience last week to be the first place in Australia, to trial the TrailRider, a single wheeled wheelchair that allows people with physical disabilities’ to access areas of the park previously unachievable with conventional chairs. It relies on fit pilots (sherpers) to push, pull and manoeuvre the chair and its occupant along uneven surfaces; requiring teamwork, trust and ultimately a sense of achievement when you reach your desired destination. The TrailRider will be made available free of charge to visitors to the Grampians over the next 6-8 weeks to test and assess its use, appropriateness, opportunities and limitations. If successful it could be made a long term option for access to a range of promotable trails in the park environment.
The important thing to note is people wanting to use the Trailrider need to have their own support people minimum 2 – maximum 4 who can act as the Sherper/Pilot.
Thanks
David Roberts
Ranger in Charge
Grampians National Park
Editor’s Note: Those of you with long memories will know that FOGG pioneered access for all abilities in the GNP with our Red Gum Walk and our sponsorship of a guide book, so this is an initiative we heartily endorse.