Parks Victoria – Update – Spring 2023: William Playne – Visitor/Community Ranger
Thank you for the opportunity to connect, contribute and share vital information about the park. I hope you enjoy the range of brief reports/project updates. They certainly provide understanding and comprehension concerning the diverse range of ongoing tasks needed to manage the scope of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
In the past month, it was exciting to see the pulse of the park rise as perfect spring weather drew large numbers of visitors. The Mackenzie Falls track counter topped the popularity stakes with 590 visitors per day over the two weeks of the school holidays! Zumsteins welcomed many picnickers and day walkers headed for Fish Falls and beyond. Out on the trail, Grampians Peaks Trail Rangers met good numbers of walkers, with many journeying over the full 12-day experience. Each with their own personal take on the challenge and specialness the trail offers. The current GPT visitation data supporting this busyness, with an 85% October occupancy figure for Gar Hike-in Campground and similar rate for Werdug Hike-in Campground. These are clearly the places to be on the GPT! All this equating to a wonderful sense of aliveness in this extraordinary park.
Aerial Pest Animal Operation – October 2023: Kailee Savoia – Grampians Ark Coordinator
Parks Victoria successfully delivered an aerial control operation focussing on deer and goats in mid-October. This was the first operation under the State Governments Protecting Biodiversity funding following the successful completion of the Biodiversity Response Program. The operation delivered three days of control efforts treating large tracts of high value, rugged and remote areas. The safe delivery of this program involved temporary closures in areas including walking tracks such as the Grampians Peaks Trail. The cooperation and support from the community, stakeholders, and visitors was integral to the successful delivery of this operation.
DEECA Fire Team 2023/24: Emily Scott – Fire and Land Operations Officer
Over the winter months, the Halls Gap Fire Team transitioned from Parks Victoria to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). This year we will have a team of 15 staff, with the seasonal firefighting staff just starting their contracts for the season. Our focus for the next few months is training and preparing for the summer season, undertaking our annual Asset Protection Zone works around the townships of Halls Gap and Pomonal, and beginning to prepare some burns on the JFMP (Joint Fuel Mgt Program). The local Parks Victoria Ranger team will continue to support the JFMP both in preparation and delivery, with the focus currently on collating important visitor information documents to prepare for next year’s Autumn burn program.
Grampians Peaks Trail (GPT): Andrea Witty – GPT Project Officer
In early October, the GPT team scheduled helicopter operations along the GPT. These works removed 11 toilet pods and transferred trail surfacing materials into and out of Hike-in Campgrounds. The Yarram Helicopter Landing Site has since been resurfaced and improved. They also recently applied 70 way-finding arrows to the GPT from Gar Hike-in Campground through to Beehive Falls, with another 30 way-finding arrows from Gar Hike-in Campground to Mount Difficult Summit.
Yarram helicopter pad (Photo by PV)
Visitor/Community
This is the season that we process a huge number of School program permits, event, wedding and film/photography permits. We’ve been supporting the planning for the GPT 100 Miler Trail run to ensure the event delivers on its promise to activate the Gariwerd landscape, and build the profile of the Grampians Peaks Trail. As always with events of this nature, strict conditions will be placed on the organiser to ensure environmental and cultural values are protected, and that emergency management plans are in place.
Walking Tracks
The walking tracks team have attended to many fallen trees in the past month due to the strong spring winds we have been getting. The team has undertaken a range of track audits and completed preventative maintenance including directional and risk signage improvements in the Wonderland area, track clearing at the Chimney Pots, and drainage improvements at Beehive Falls. They have also been supporting key projects such as Cranage lookout repair (works are currently out to tender), ongoing project planning for Mackenzie Falls and regular rockfall risk inspections. Planning is also underway for a range of other projects including a small realignment for Boroka Lookout Track, planning for Balconies walking track repairs and signage, and planning for range of volunteer activities.
Volunteers
The Bird Ecology course supporting the Great Gariwerd Bird Survey is currently underway with a full complement of enthusiastic volunteers. In November, four tertiary students who are participating in the Deakin University Placement Program will be focused on the Sallow Wattle removal program. We also look forward to the Hamilton and Wimmera 4X4 Clubs providing amazing support in the seasonal gate opening process.
A wonderful new volunteering opportunity is now live. EcoWarriors and Parks Victoria are very happy to begin the monitoring of 50+ nest boxes in surrounding reserves of the Gariwerd Area on Saturday the 18th of November and Sunday the 19th of November. To register, jump on ParkConnect or email
OUR EVENTS
BIRD MORNING
Saturday 12th August
Eleven members