Grampians National Park – Page 2 – Friends of Grampians Gariwerd

ADVISORY GROUP REPORT December 2011

The AG has met twice since the last newsletter.

The September meeting

We clarified what we hoped to achieve by appointing two junior members to the group, and how to go about it.
Mountain bike working group update: Committee met mid-July and 2 members committed to map proposed trial network north of Halls Gap using existing tracks and forward to David Roberts.
Brambuk Management Service Agreement was discussed.
Heritage Events: Next year represents 100 years since Walter Zumstein established the historic visitor site and accommodation, and this clearly will need to be included in ideas for the re-opening of the Zumsteins picnic area. There is also interest in a Forestry heritage event, Spring 2012 tentative date.
Two community forums have been held to discuss Zumsteins renewal plans. Once insurance money is confirmed a site plan will be developed and circulated for community comment.
Fire Ecology Strategy update: Jill Reid described … Read the rest

HALLS GAP LANDSLIP MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

The Northern Grampians Shire released its landslip strategy and guidelines at meetings in Halls Gap on August 29.
A small number of the 190 landslides throughout the Grampians National Park impacted on private property in the Halls Gap area. The properties impacted by landslide were mapped by geotechnical experts engaged by Council to prepare maps to identify land that is susceptible to landslide. Council have now contacted the property owners who have land that is identified as susceptible to landslide. There are immediate consequences for planning permits for new construction in those areas, and it will clarify who may be affected regarding insurance premiums. Detailed information can be had by contacting the shire direct.… Read the rest

FLOOD RECOVERY NEWS: 2 _ VICROADS Margo with help from Andrew Roach

The PV road and track network:
Parks Victoria are currently focusing their efforts on restoring access to the base of MacKenzie Falls and the walking tracks from Sundial Carpark to Lakeview Lookout and the Pinnacle. Repair work on the walking track from Halls Gap to the Pinnacle via Mackeys Peak is also being undertaken. Parks Victoria is endeavouring to have these walks open by the September school holidays. Other popular walks, like the Venus Baths Loop and in the Wonderland area, will take longer. There are numerous bridges lost, and access is hampered by the Vicroads work in the vicinity. The work required is time consuming and complex, particular the difficulties associated with access.

Main roads in the Victoria Valley and Victoria Range were re-opened to visitor traffic in August. These remain very slippery and have soft edges, so if you venture into the park make sure you slow down, … Read the rest

FLOOD RECOVERY NEWS: 1 _ VICROADS Margo with help from Andrew Boak of VICROADS

So much done, so much still to be done. I’ll start with the roads.

Saturday 20th August saw the long awaited opening of the Grampians Tourist Road after months of hard work. After so much effort put in by people from Vicroads, Parks Vic and the contractors, the opening was a bit disappointing. The invitation was for an 11 a.m. commencement. However, when we arrived we stood around cheerfully chatting in the sun before being told that the minister was running late due to fog. Come back in an hour. So off we went to drink coffee and admire Grampians art. We duly returned to the locked gate, still no minister. Meanwhile a queue of cars was forming as the signs in Halls Gap declared the road was now open. Eventually it was decided that the two mayors – of Southern and Northern Grampians – would open the road; and … Read the rest

NEWS FROM THE ADVISORY GROUP Margo Sietsma

The next AG meeting is due on September 13. Each member received copies of the Fire Operations Plan and the new Fire Management Zones to examine and respond to before this meeting. Remember that if people have any questions they wish to raise with Parks Management they can do so via the Advisory Group. You don’t have to be a member of any particular group. The aim is for the AG to be a two way communication: people bringing ideas and suggestions to the Park, and park staff explaining what is happening, so we on the AG can bring that out to the public. In some ways the modern tools of web pages, facebook and the like are changing the way PV communicates with the public, so the role of the AG may need to change. However direct personal contact beats the mass produced content on the internet every time. … Read the rest

RECENT TRACK OPENINGS

Temporary Easter Openings: Halls Gap to Pinnacle Lookout and Silverband Falls Walking Tracks.
Parks Victoria has worked hard to provide access to two walks in the Wonderland Range for visitors during the Easter break. These walks have been built for temporary access and will be closed at some stage after Easter to restore the tracks to their original standard.
1. The Pinnacle from Halls Gap 2. Silverband Falls Walk

Properly open:
Halls Gap surrounds:
FYANS CREEK LOOP, BORONIA PEAK CHATAUQUA PEAK TUNNEL TRACK FROM POMONAL

Access from Dunkeld:
MT STURGEON THE PICCANINNY

Northern Grampians:
HOLLOW MOUNTAIN GULGURN MANJA SHELTER MT ZERO MT STAPYLTON LOOP
NGAMADJIDJ SHELTER BEEHIVE FALLS BRIGGS BLUFF MOUNT DIFFICULT

Grampians Update – Mt Difficult to Briggs Bluff Long distance Walk

Parks Victoria is happy to inform our licensed operators and interested groups, that the long distance walk from Troopers creek over Mt Difficult to Briggs Bluff and … Read the rest

Parkwatch Article

The March issue of the Victorian National Parks Association’s Park Watch journal had an interesting article on a 1917 tour of the Grampians by a group of Field Naturalists from Melbourne. They also made a movie of their trip, which is now in the National Film and Sound Archives, and was shown a couple of years ago at the Halls Gap Film Festival. The article in Parkwatch was based on a book called Pioneer Tours by Vivienne Worthington, which is available from her (5241 9491).… Read the rest

Grampians Walking Tracks Support Group.

On 2nd April we were joined by some 14 volunteers from the Ballarat Bushwalking Club for further work on the Tunnel Track, which goes over the Mt William range from near Pomonal to join the Bellfield fireline in the Fyans valley. The track follows much the same route as the original bridle trail between Upper Halls Gap and Pomonal.

The track had seen very little attention since the 2006 bushfires so there was lots of regrowth and a fair bit of erosion, particularly on the Pomonal side, which we had first tackled with the same group of volunteers last September. New steps had been put in at the start of the track and gravel had been spread, with the clearing of undergrowth progressing about half way up the hill, which was the thickest section. We were pleased to find that this work had survived the recent floods better than expected. … Read the rest

ADVISORY GROUP REPORT

The Advisory Group met in February and, not surprisingly, the flood damage was the major agenda item. Before we went out to inspect a little of the damage, Dave explained some of the complexities involved in establishing priorities for recovery work. For example: some roads are Parks responsibility, some are shire responsibilities – and there are 4 shires involved – , and three are VicRoads. The road to Mt William is a PV road, but is needed for access to the communication towers. So that access was very high priority (via Redman Rd,as the bridges on the Vicroads Dunkeld road were so badly damaged). Roses Gap Rd is a Northern Grampians Shire Rd, so the parking for the Beehive Falls walk is their responsibility. Halls Gap to Mt Zero Rd (Bolte Highway) is a PV responsibility, so although the shires would love to see it upgraded, all the costs would … Read the rest