Category: Park Desk

Graham Parkes

Staff
We congratulate Emily Bedggood in her appointment as Ranger to support the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby (BTRW) project. Emily will be helping Tony Corrigan to prepare for the re-introduction of BTRW into the Grampians national park, and will also be assisting with post release field monitoring.

The new financial year will see Lockeah Sabbo move from the Visitor Services team to the Natural Values team. Locky will be assisting Jake Goodes with Pest Plant and Animal control works within the Park.

We would also like to welcome Adam Tribe and Kyle Hewitt to the team. Adam and Kyle were previously part of our Fire Recovery team and have since been appointed to Field Services Officer positions provided through the Public Land Fire Initiative.

We would also like to take this opportunity to give our sincere thanks to all those staff who have contributed to the fire recovery works … Read the rest

Staff
We welcome Rhonda McNeil to the Grampians team. Rhonda comes to us from Central Region and takes up the position of Fire Operations Officer which has a focus on the Grampians and Black Range as well as the wider Wimmera District.

We are excited about the return to work by Suzy Skurrie who has been on sick leave for several months. Suzy will initially work part time, one to two days a week.

Summer Ranger, Emily Bedggood, will assist over the next few months with the preparation work for the reintroduction of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.

Fire Recovery Works

Easter will see the reopening of a number of destinations in the southern end of the Wonderland Range, including Sundial Car Park, Sundial and Lake View Lookouts, and Delleys Dell, Dairy Creek, and Mount Rosea Walking Tracks.

Silverband Road is reopening and will have a one-way direction between Rosea Car Park … Read the rest

All the people we have met so far in the Grampians area have given us a warm welcome into your beautiful community. Like Jeff, Teresa and Nigel who were here the last two summers, we (Sean, Ruth & Aiden) are participating in the Parks Canada – Parks Victoria exchange program’s next round and will be here for two six month periods from November to April. I’ll be continuing Jeff’s work on kangaroo and wallaby monitoring in support of the work looking into grazing impacts in the Grampians, and helping out where ever I can. The idea of the program is to share experience and ideas from national parks on one side of the globe with national parks on the other.

The park we come from is called Riding Mountain located in the southwest corner of the province of Manitoba. The park is at the eastern edge of the Canadian prairies, … Read the rest

Campground Planning

Last year, as part of its election announcements, the State Government committed an additional $1.5 million to be spent on improvement to campground and associated walking tracks in the Grampians over two years during 2007-2009. Planning of the works has commenced and is focussing on Jimmy Creek, Smiths Mill, Plantation, Boreang, Buandik and Stapylton Campgrounds. A design firm is working closely with Park staff to review the layout and facilities and develop designs for these much loved destinations.
At Smiths Mill a walking Track link to Mackenzie Falls along the creek is also being planned.
Much of the implementation for this program will be carried out next financial year in 2008-2009.

Fire Season News

We have experienced an early start to the fire season with large fires in the Little Desert and two lightning strikes in the Grampians. Both Grampians fires were in difficult locations and kept small … Read the rest

h3. Parks Canada Exchange

Over the last two summers the Grampians participated in a staff exchange program with Parks Canada and Jeff Weir joined our team. Jeff carried out excellent work on the presence of grazing species along the boundaries of the Park. Jeff’s experience in fire fighting was also greatly valued during two bad fire seasons.

The exchange program is continuing, as is the work on grazing species, and this summer Sean Frey will join our team. Sean will be joined by wife, Ruth, and son, Aiden.

h3. Congratulations Stan

Congratulations to Stan on his appointment as President of the FOGG’s. I would like to also say thankyou to Proo for the fantastic leadership that she has provided during her term as president. Best wishes to the FOGG’s for another productive year ahead.

h3. Staff News

We welcome Peter Foster to the Park as Team Leader Visitor Services. Peter … Read the rest

*Rain brings new challenges*

Much needed and welcome rain in May has resulted in significant damage to roads in the Grampians, particularly in the fire affected area. Increased runoff has put enormous pressure on drains and culverts, causing a number of washouts. The most serious damage has been experienced along Mitchell Road and Asses Ears Road. Following temporary works, Mitchell Road is now open, but restoration work is still required on Asses Ears Road.

*Fire Recovery Works*

Early opening saw the long awaited re-opening of the Pinnacle walking track. Feedback from visitors and locals alike has been very positive. The new track provides a safer more sustainable walking experience and is a tribute to the efforts of the fire recovery crew.

Contracts have been let for the replacemement of the residence and toilets at Mackenzie Falls, which were both destroyed in last year’s fire. An energy efficient single storey structure … Read the rest