Category: From Parks Victoria

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park – Aerial Pest Control Tuesday 6th May to 8th May

 

Aerial Pest Animal Control Program in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park

 

Parks Victoria is conducting a conservation program to respond to the ecological impacts of the recent Grampians bushfires.

 

An aerial shooting operation will be undertaken between Tuesday 6th May – Thursday 8th of May 2025 to target pest animals and to support the recovery of the park and its native species.

 

Operations will occur within fire ground areas currently closed to the public. No additional closures of visitor sites or campgrounds will occur.

 

To ensure visitor safety, fireground closure signs are located at key road access points to the control area. Visitors are encouraged to follow all instructions on permanent and temporary signage.

 

For further information visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap or call Parks Victoria Information on 13 1963.… Read the rest

Tandara Track Work 17th March

Park Update

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park 12.03.2025

From Monday 17th March 2025, Wildtracks are commencing works on the Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track between the end of Tandara Rd and the Terraces Fireline). Wildtracks will take approximately 2 weeks with this section of the track temporarily closed or detoured around on the Terraces Fireline in accordance with the progress of works. Boronia Peak remains accessible from the northern end of the Fyans Creek (Barri Yalug) Track.

William (Bill) Playne

Ranger – Visitor and Community

Grampians (Gariwerd)|Western Region… Read the rest

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

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

FROM BILL PLAYNE AT THE PARKS DESK June 2023

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 … Read the rest

Official Park Update 17-01-2025 Pest Control Operations

 Grampians (Gariwerd) aerial pest animal control operation

20th – 24th January 2025

Parks Victoria is conducting a conservation program to respond to the ecological impacts of the Yarram Gap fire.

An aerial shooting operation will be undertaken between Monday 20th – Friday 24th of January 2025 to target pest animals and to support the recovery of the park and its native species.

The fire affected over a third of the Grampians (Gariwerd) 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.

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 Grampians Mountain Dragon. These native animals are now … Read the rest

Grampians Ark Landscape-scale fox control for threatened fauna recovery. June 2023

Friday 7th June: Parks Info night presented by Kailee Savoia, Grampians Ark Landscape-scale fox control for threatened fauna recovery.
The July gathering of FOGG was a presentation by Kailee Savoia, PV Coordinator of the Grampians Ark project.
Kailee provided an overview of the project work thus far and outlined some of the plans for the future. We also had William (Bill) Playne, PV Ranger – Visitor and Community, join us to listen to Kailee’s presentation and he assisted with some of the questions raised. Kailee explained that Grampians Ark is a state government funded project from the State Government’s Weeds and Pests on Public Land Initiative. Funding was allocated over four years with this project ending in 2025. It supports herself and two other ranger roles as well as funding the materials and equipment required. Foxes are listed as a threatening process for several species in the Grampians Gariwerd, namely: … Read the rest

Parks News from the Chief Ranger June 2021

From Rhonda McNeil M 0498 441 433   E

It is with great sadness that last week saw the passing of Graeme  “Shonky”  Sherger.  Shonky was a long standing member of the Halls Gap team as was his father before him. He was involved in many aspects of park management but in particular he was involved in machinery use in the park, whether building campgrounds, grading roads or incredible work on the fireline.  Our thoughts are with Danielle and family at this time.

Work on the Grampians Peaks Trail is continuing as we get closer to a Spring opening and it was great to have the Grampians Advisory Group out on site at one of the new day walks and to a campground to share what really was part of their vision for this park.

The management plan is in finally stages of reviewing all the feedback and providing a … Read the rest

Gariwerd Black Range News June 2021

From Hannah, Community Engagement Ranger

Parks Victoria has shortlisted the Black Range Conservation Survey, led by the Black Range Land Management Group and NGT, for the funding through the Volunteer Innovation Fund.  The votes of the Victorian public will decide which projects are successful, so read on for more info!

The Black Range is a granite uprising east of Gariwerd/The Grampians near Ararat that formed 400 million years ago. The Range is of cultural significance to its Traditional Owners, and includes Bunjil’s Shelter. Following recent poor land management and significantly reduced annual rainfall, the Black Range Land Management Group is working to increase habitat and biodiversity, control invasive species and erosion, and to conserve more areas of the dry and rocky Range. We have partnered with the Land Management Group to support this project which aims to engage our local community in actions that learn about and address climate … Read the rest