Exploring Eastern Victorian parks this school holidays!

Thursday 13 September, 2012

The last six months have delivered a number of significant storm and flood events to Victoria’s Far East and Alpine region, with some areas still inaccessible to visitors.

Parks Victoria Acting Regional Manager Mr Will McCutcheon has been assisting rangers in undertaking assessments of significant damage that was caused to walking tracks, 4WD trails and park infrastructure throughout Eastern Victoria over the past few months.

“We develop comprehensive recovery plans and deploy teams to begin works, but then Mother Nature intervenes with another storm which delays our progress”, said Mr McCutcheon. “However, we remain focused and determined to complete the recovery works as quickly as possible.

Stage 1 of the recovery works from the most recent storms is extensive across East Gippsland and the Alpine area, but the teams are focusing hard on ensuring some of the most popular visitor sites including Cape Conran Coastal Park, Thurra and Wingan campgrounds in Croajingolong National Park and sections of Lake Tyers Forest Park will be ready for visitation. As well, many of the popular low elevation visitor sites in the Alpine National Park are accessible, and Mt Buffalo National Park is open for normal visitation.

“Due to normal seasonal road and track closures and substantial flood and storm damage including lots of fallen trees and limbs, some areas have not been assessed yet, as we haven’t been able to gain access. These areas will be addressed at a later date.

The complexity and breadth of recovery works including both walking and 4WD tracks is huge but we will continue to focus our recovery efforts on reopening these tracks as soon as we are able to gain access and complete the necessary works to make it safe for visitors again”, said Mr McCutcheon.

“We are advising visitors if they are planning to visit the Alpine or Far East Gippsland region over the school holidays that they should remain on the main roads and exercise extreme caution around waterfalls, rivers, creeks and waterways that may be still quite high and to avoid attempting any crossings”, said Mr McCutcheon.

Visitors should remember that creek crossings may have been washed out, embankments undercut and track edges may have become very soft.

“These problems are sometimes hard to see”, he said. “We advise visitors not to drive around closed road signs as they are placed there for good reason.

Take note of the latest advice and forecasts by tuning into emergency broadcasters: ABC Local Radio, commercial radio and designated community radio stations or SKY NEWS Television.

For further information on current flood warnings visit the SES website, and for road closures see VicRoads flood alerts.