According to Phil Ingamells, of the Victorian National Parks Association, “there has never been more hoo-haa from Parks Victoria over the development of a management plan, and never such an unpromising result, as their draft of their alpine parks management plan”.
He says that the new plan is a “new low”, delivering very little that will enhance environmental protection, despite starting the process well.
You can read his analysis here.
Well, for everyone who has been suffering with all this dwindling snow, rainy days and warm weather, the front that’s passing over the Australian Alps this weekend is definitely a sight for sore eyes.
With a good start to the season back in June that then faded off, backcountry skiing has been exceptionally sketchy over the past week or so, and even in resorts most have only about 30 per cent of their trails open. That situation will change this week….
For full reports, check Mountain Watch.
These are a few pics from the Mt Hotham area over the weekend.
First Protect our Winters (POW) Australia action alert
The Victorian government is in the final stages of deciding what type of Climate Bill it will deliver as part of it’s election commitments.
Similar Bills in other places – for instance, the UK and Scotland – have set ambitious greenhouse emissions reductions targets (Scotland has committed to 42% reductions by 2020).
We must urge the Victorian government to deliver a strong, world leading Bill. The final decision about the Bill is being taken now. And a strong Bill will greatly reduce Victoria’s contribution to climate change through driving a shift away from our reliance on polluting brown coal power.
POW Australia has issued its first action alert, asking people to email the Premier, John Brumby. It is available here.
We hope POW supporters, skiers and boarders from across Australia will support this on line campaign. Lets get the Australian winter sports community mobilised to protect our winters.
In July 2010 a team of nine Nepali women have begin the first international leg of a tour that will see them climb seven of the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. On successfully climbing all seven summits they will be setting a world record for being the largest team to do so.
The team will be using their expedition to highlight the urgent issue of climate change, and they are currently in Australia.
Check here for extra information and itinerary.
If you walk into the town square in the Victorian ski village of Mt Buller, you will be greeted by a sculpture of a mountain cattleman on his horse. In all of the ‘high country’ towns of south eastern Australia and throughout the ski resorts, there is a pre-occupation with the history of the cattle families that, for generations, drove their stock into the mountains.
There are roads, buildings, and events all named after these pioneers, stickers on cars, photos and sculptures, and endless homage to these tough people and their way of life.
But where are the images or mention of the Indigenous people who lived in this country for perhaps 1,000 generations?
The Australian Alps have been inhabited by indigenous nations for millennia. But as Taungurung man Mick Harding said recently “we were removed from our lands” by the invaders and “scattered to the four winds”. But over the past decade or so, a growing number of people and communities have been re-establishing connection to their country.
There is a story of this process here.
‘Winter Dreaming: an Australian Alps freeheel film’ (released in 2008) is both a telemark ski film and a celebration of the fleeting miracle of cold and snow on our old, flat continent. As was noted by Barry Park, in the Age newspaper, it is “part documentary and part eye-candy”.
What makes Winter Dreaming stand-out for me is Stephen’s eye for detail and the often fleeting beauty in the landscape, rather than simply going for the ‘rush’ shots of people ripping down big slopes.
You can find a review of the film here.
You can find a profile on Stephen here.
The much lauded but controversial major re-development of the Mount Hotham alpine village was quietly shelved last month. This long awaited $500 million major restructure of the village would have seen the Great Alpine Road re-routed through the village and was predicated on the major ‘Bale’ re development proceeding. Bale was expected to deliver another 1,414 beds to the village. The global financial crisis was billed as being the main reason the project is not proceeding.
This marks the end of a long running and concerted plan by big business to damage the mountain resort, and the lapse of the current proposal is good news for any one who wants to see our alpine resorts remain (relatively) diverse and accessible to a range of people.
This is most welcome news. For a full report check here.
Melbourne, 10 June, 2010. Protect Our Winters (POW), the global environmental foundation founded in 2007 by legendary pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones, is broadening their reach this winter by opening a local chapter in Australia.
Protect Our Winters (POW) is a US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to reversing the global warming crisis by uniting and mobilising the global winter sports community. Jeremy has witnessed first-hand the impact of climate change on our mountains.
“POW was founded on the idea that if we harness our collective energy and put forth a focused effort, the winter sports community can have a direct influence on minimizing the damage that’s been done and ensure that winters are here for generations behind us”, said Jones.
Full report here.
Andrew Stanger lives on the Monaro tablelands in south eastern NSW.
As a recent arrival to the region, he is, as he puts it “taking some time to acclimatise” because of the often harse nature of the environment. But equally, “there is something distinctive about this place and the landscape and the people” that has him captivated and intrigued.
You can find his writing on adapting to life on the Monaro here.
Elizabeth MacPhee has been working across the Australian Alps for two decades, and has a life long commitment to helping repair degraded ecosystems in the Alps. She is Rehabilitation Officer with the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water, in NSW.
The Parks Service are doing great work on rehabilitation in the Kosciuszko National Park, and her work has been pivotal in this. For the past 5 years she has been working on the former construction sites of the Snowy Hydro-electric scheme.
Check here for a profile and interview on her work
Andy Kimber lives on the Warby Ranges near Glenrowan. He has a life long connection with the valleys and mountains of north east Victoria, and has written extensively abut the area, in various forms including songs, as well as helping engender a sense of place for many people in the region, especially students he has taught over the years.
He would be interested in any poems or songs about the mountain valleys of the North East. If you have some, or know where to find some, please email him: andykimber@netc.net.au
And stay tuned for a review of his daughters album ‘Sounds like Thunder’ soon, featuring some fine tracks, including about the Victorian high country.
Many people will have heard the tragic news that Robyn Rodd, a well-known, and much loved champion skier from Jindera was killed in a cycling accident last Wednesday.
She was a rider and swimmer, and probably best known as a national cross country skiing champion, who ranked in the women’s top 10 for the Kangaroo Hoppet race in Victoria more than 10 times. Robyn died after colliding with a logging truck while on a steep descent on the Great Alpine Road near Harrietville. Tributes have been pouring in. She is survived by her husband Richard, sons Lachlan and Cameron, and daughter Nicola.
There is a tribute and story on her death from the Border Mail here.
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