Management of grazing animals in the burnt areas is a problem (goats and deer). They are using Judas goats, but would prefer to be able to shoot from helicopters. Deer management remains a real difficulty because of their protected status still.
Several research agreements are in place to study fire and fauna relationships, and sallow wattle is part of this.
Both the Stapylton campground repair and the work at Zumsteins are expected to be complete by the end of June. McKenzie falls is on track but won’t be complete until next year. The picnic area and bridge at Golton Gorge may not be repaired, as the Peaks trail in that area is likely to open up other beauty spots. They plan to close the existing Troopers creek campground and move it to dead Bullock Creek, but the Management plan would need adjustment.
New cultural heritage sites found after the fires are being registered, but a long term strategy will be needed here too. Redoing the Management plan is becoming urgent.
It was a good meeting, well attended and thoughtful. There was more on the agenda, but I feel we covered the more important issues. The next meeting is scheduled for July, with a focus on Fire Management. We did touch on this, particularly some of the outcomes after the Lancefield fire. The new paperwork involved is massive. One consequence is the delay between requesting a fire and getting permission to do it. This means that the opportunity to do a small mosaic burn in midwinter when the weather is favourable just got much harder.