Forest and park track conditions looking good for Cup weekend

Friday 26 October, 2012

Hundreds of forest and park tracks and roads across Victoria will re-open in time for the Melbourne Cup weekend - starting on Saturday 3/11/2012.

The roads and tracks are closed temporarily to protect them from damage during the wetter months each year as part of the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria’s seasonal road closure program.

DSE Statewide Roading and Bridges Planning Manager Tony Dowler said: “These roads and tracks were closed over winter and spring for public safety and to protect track surfaces as well as water quality and the forest environment.”

“Most of the closed roads and tracks which we are re-opening on Cup weekend are part of the regular seasonal closures but some are also being opened after the completion of repairs to damage caused by past weather events including storms and flooding,” Mr Dowler said.

Parks Victoria Four Wheel Drive Program Manager Darin Lynch said: “It is important that motorists drive safely when re-entering areas of State forest and parks following the closures.”

“In areas of the North East and Gippsland in particular, many of our parks and forests have been affected by significant rainfall and wind damage, and while we have made every effort to ensure visitors have access for the opening weekend, we advise drivers to be prepared to come across fallen trees and other debris in some places,” Mr Lynch said.

“We are also urging Victorians to drive safely and responsibly. We don’t want the surface of our roads and tracks churned up unnecessarily when they are wet because this can cause problems for everyone who needs to use them throughout the rest of the year.”

Visitors are encouraged to use the information sources referred to below to obtain the most up to date information on access into forest and park areas before they travel.

For more information about road closures and changes of conditions go to Change of Conditions or www.dse.vic.gov.au/publicaccessmap.