Category: 2024-2025 Summer Grampians Bushfires

2025 Grampians (Gariwerd) aerial pest animal control operation

Official Notice

Starting 12th – 14th March 2025

Parks Victoria is conducting a conservation program to improve the health of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park native animals and plants following the devastating recent fires.

The recent Yarram Gap and Wallaby Rocks fires affected over 70% of the Grampians National Park impacting native plants, animals, aquatic species and invertebrates.

Urgent action is being taken to reduce predators (foxes and feral cats) and introduced herbivores (deer and feral goats), threatening the survival and recovery of vulnerable native plants and animals.

An aerial control operation will be conducted Wed 12th – Fri 14th March 2025 to support the recovery of native animals and plants after the Wallaby Rocks and Yarram Gap fires.

Foxes and feral cats prey on Grampians native animals such as the Brush tailed Rock Wallaby, Long nosed Potoroo, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Smoky mouse, Heath mouse, and … Read the rest

Grampians Fires

16th December 2024 Lightning strikes started fires at Yarram Gap and spread north towards Halls Gap.  Soon the whole Mt William range, Mt Rosea and Sundial area was on fire.  This fire extended south towards Walker Swamp and west into the Wannon River valley and east towards Pomonal and Moyston.

Halls Gap and surrounding towns were evacuated several times.  Christmas was a very unsettling time for many.

Over 76000 hectares of National Park and farmland was burnt, the fire had a perimeter of 427km.  Including farmland around Pomonal and Moyston.  Pomonal had burnt recently in February 2024 and once again the town had to be evacuated.  Several homes were lost and many fences and out buildings.

On the 6th January this fire was contained, but blacking out operations continued and the fire was monitored to ensure that it did not break out again.

Halls Gap reopened on 8th January and … Read the rest

Extreme Fire Danger 22nd February 2025

Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 21.02.2025

 

Total Fire Ban 22.02.2025

Saturday 22nd February 2025 has been declared a day of Total Fire Ban in the Wimmera and South West Districts. These districts cover the whole of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

 

No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air from 12:01 AM on Saturday, 22nd February 2025 until 11:59 PM Saturday, 22nd February.

 

To find out what you can and can’t do during the declared Fire Danger Period, and on days of Total Fire Ban, when fires in the open air are legally restricted. Please visit:

https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/total-fire-bans-fire-danger-ratings/can-i-or-cant-i

 

 

William (Bill) Playne

Ranger – Visitor and Community

… Read the rest

Park Update 21st February 2025 – Fire now under control in the Grampians area 135,800 hectares burnt

Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 21.02.2025

 For Bushfire Reopening information and Road Updates please visit www.parks.vic.gov.au

 Welcoming visitors back to the park

The reopening’s in non-fire affected areas have rolled out over the week in the northern, southern and some central areas. Brambuk staff have noted increased numbers of international visitors coming through the centre and general enquiries about campgrounds.

 Bushfires Update

Issued Last Sunday at 5:01 PM (from Vic Emergency).

This Community Information message is being issued for Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and the surrounding area.

  • The status for this bushfire is now under control.
  • Over summer two large bushfires impacted the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. These fires have burnt 135,800 ha of park and private land. However, there are still many areas open for you to visit. Please obey park and road closures, and do not enter fire affected areas as fire crews are working in
… Read the rest

Meeting report on Parks Talk by Sarah Cole in February 2025 about the Fires

Parks Victoria Meeting 

Date: February 7th Location: Brambuk, Halls Gap The National Park and Cultural Centre

  1. Brush Tailed Rock Wallabies
  • Population: 60 animals across two sites in Victoria
  • Reintroduction: Since 2008
  • Recent post fire Feeding Operations:
    • 5 aerial operations using helicopters
    • Drone attempts were unsuccessful
  1. Deer and Pest Control
  • Animals Controlled:
    • 10 foxes
    • 30 red deer
    • 3 out of 4 Sambar
  1. Feeding Programs for Other Animals
  • Heath Mouse
  • River Blackfish:
    • Depend on hollow logs in rivers for spawning and hiding
    • Relocation Efforts – farm dams
  • Agile Antechinus
  • Long nosed Potoroo
  • Southern Brown Bandicoot
  1. Shelter Pods:
    • Purchased by DEECA
    • Monitored by Deakin University
    • 160 installed across two sites (80 pods per site)
    • Clusters: 16 pods × 5 locations
    • Monitoring: 2 cameras per cluster
  1. Small Mammal Trapping Program:
    • Conducted by Dr John White (Deakin University)

Funding: Possible funding for a team dedicated to fire recovery

Pest Plants

  1. Sallow Wattle:

Issues :

  • Regenerates
… Read the rest

Emergency Warning for Brimpaen, Wartook and Zumsteins – leave Immediately

29th January 2025 Issued Today at 3:57 PM.

This Emergency Warning is being issued for Brimpaen, Wartook, Zumsteins.

  • There is a bushfire at Grampians National Park – Wallaby Rocks that is not yet under control.
  • The bushfire is travelling towards Snells Road and Wartook Rise in the Wartook area.
  • Private property in Wartook is being impacted now.

Leaving immediately is the safest option, before conditions become too dangerous.

 

Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
What you should do: 
 

Travel to: 

  • The home of family or friends that is away from the warning area.
  • You should leave using the Northern Grampians Road and head towards Laharum or Horsham.
  • When you leave remember to take your pets, medications, mobile phone and charger.
In the car: 
  • If you are travelling, do not enter the area. Make a u-turn and travel to safety.
  • Slow
… Read the rest

29th January 2025 Grampians Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park – Bushfires Update 29.01.2025

Full Park Closure Amendment – Partial Reopening

 

On Tuesday 28th of January 2025, the State Control Centre declared Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park closed after a series of bushfires started following lightning strikes in the central and Victoria Range areas of the park. This was to ensure visitor/community safety and to support the firefighting effort. These fires are not yet under control.

 

The full closure declaration was amended on Wednesday 29th of January 2025. It now entails partial re-openings of visitor sites and walking tracks in parts of the park that are safe and unaffected by the current bushfire situation.

 

Visitor Sites and Day Walks – To Re-open

 

Central Grampians, Wonderland Range and Halls Gap local walks

 

  • Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre and nearby walks
  • The Wonderland Loop Walk, including The Pinnacle, Venus Baths, and Grand Canyon Loop (either
… Read the rest

Boroka Fire Update 21-01-2025

Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 21.01.2025

Boroka Bushfire Update

  • The Boroka bushfire in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is now under control
  • Firefighters continue to monitor and black out hotspots, treat hazardous trees and manage control lines
  • Small areas of smoke within the containment area may be visible

The following closures are in place to support ongoing suppression activities and work towards fire recovery operations and impact assessments.

  • Mt Difficult Road between Lake Wartook boat ramp and Mt Victory Road
  • Boroka Lookout
  • Boroka Track
  • Lake Wartook Lookout
  • Old Mill Road from Rose Creek Road to Mt Difficult Road.

For more information

Use multiple sources to stay informed about emergency information and warnings:

www.emergency.vic.gov.au

VicEmergency Hotline – freecall 1800 226 226

VicEmergency app

Facebook or Twitter (#VicFires)

Tune in to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations.

Visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre – 277 Grampians Road … Read the rest

January 7th Community Newsletter

Community Newsletter No 5: Grampians (Gariwerd) National park POSTED: 7 January 2025

Information about the fire

On 6 January 2025, the bushfire in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was declared contained. The fire began on 17 December after dry lightning started multiple fires in the southern part of the national park. With a fire footprint circumference of 422 kilometres, more than 76,000 hectares of national park and agricultural land has burned.

Victorian emergency services, with help from interstate crews worked extremely hard to combat the periods of extreme fire danger faced over recent weeks.

Reopening plan 

With the Grampians fire now contained, fire agencies and local councils have been working with businesses to re-open Halls Gap township to visitors at 10:00am tomorrow, Wednesday 8 January.

Parts of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park not affected by fire will also re-open to visitors at 9:00am Friday 10 January.

Sites that are re-opening include

… Read the rest

January 3rd Community Update Grampians Bushfire

Friday 03/01/2025

Community Newsletter Grampians National Park and Surrounds
Information about the fire The Grampians National Park fire is now over 76,000 ha with a perimeter of over 400km. Crews, aircraft and heavy machinery continue to focus on containing any remaining active fire and hotspots. Controlled burning out operations have been undertaken over the past few days to help strengthen our containment lines.
The Grampians National Park remains closed to the public with limited access to residents into Halls Gap. This is due to the ongoing fire threat as well as hazardous trees that are within the National Park. Fines may apply if you are found crossing through traffic management point road closed signs.

Upcoming weather and reopening plan

We are expecting challenging conditions over the coming weekend with very hot, dry and windy weather forecast on both Saturday and  Sunday, combined with warm temperatures overnight on Saturday night. Conditions … Read the rest