The Victorian government has announced that it is intending to introduce charges for overnight hiking and camping in more than 100 of our state and national parks.
In addition to increasing existing fees at car camping spots that have basic services, there is a proposal to introduce “overnight walking” fees for Alpine NP, Baw Baw NP, Grampians NP, and the Great Ocean Walk. This would mean for instance you will need a permit for hiking and camping within the Alpine National Park. For example, it will cost $30 to walk from Hotham to Falls, plus a $10 admin fee.
The Government has prepared a regulatory impact statement (RIS) to assess the impact of introducing a user pays approach to camping fees for all parks and reserves managed by Parks Victoria. It says ‘this is part of the Government’s efforts to make sure that Victorians continue to have access to these beautiful places and that the costs of providing safe, visitor-friendly facilities and services are sustainable and affordable’ and ‘these changes will provide longer-term financial sustainability for these special places’.
The new approach is expected to be introduced in Victoria’s parks and reserves from 1 March 2014.
Written submissions should be forwarded by 5:00pm Friday 22 November 2013 via either of the following:
Post
Camping and Accommodation Fees
Land Management Policy Division
Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Level 3, 8 Nicholson Street
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
In considering how much to increase camping fees, the Department of Environment and Primary industry created a weighting system, based on a mix of considerations: efficency, equity, and effectiveness. After considering the implications of these 3 categories on possible fee increases, they suggested 3 options:
· Full cost recovery
· A system equivalent to rates charged by private operators outside parks
· One based on improved revenue yield (which is the preferred option, called option 3)
Option 3 is expected to generate $15.3 million per year (camping fees at present generate around $6.5m, and the system is estimated to cost $17.8m to run on an annual basis). Implementing option 3 would mean there is a shortfall of $2.5m per year – at present the annual shortfall is $11.3m).
The supporting documents make it clear that the funds generated from camping fees will go into managing the parks rather than consolidated revenue, so in that sense I would support the proposal.
However, if the government will now receive an estimated additional $8.8m a year in camping fees, a key question is whether they will commit to using the money they have now saved in other Parks related activity, or will it just get subsumed into the state budget?
It rates camping sites according to the type of facilities offered and has a sliding scale of fees proposed. For car camping style sites, these are mostly based on sites of 6 or 8 people, making them very expensive if travelling as a couple or family. I would argue they should have a basic per person fee for smaller groups
It proposes the creation of an annual camping pass for hikers and bike riders. This would mean that remote and backcountry camping will require a fee for the first time.
Some suggestions on what you might like to say in your feedback
· The money saved from existing state budget by new camping fees should be re-invested into Park management, not subsumed into the state budget. Eg interpretive services, weed management, restoration activity, management of threatened species, etc
· The system should consider a concession for card holders (students, unemployed, pensioners, etc)
· The per person fee for remote camping (called Overnight hiker permits) is quite high. Overnight hiker permits in places like the Alpine National Park will be $10 per person per night, with a $10 booking fee per booking. It will be higher for Mt Buffalo and Wilsons Prom ($12.50 per person) and for the ‘Hotham to Falls Creek Crossing’ ($30 per site- with per person option not available). This could become very costly for people, especially given this is generally decentralised and non designated camping with low impact. A lower rate should be considered for camping in remote, unserviced sites.
· There is no per person option for high quality sites, making camping very expensive for single people, couples and small families. A per person option should be introduced.
· There should be some assessment of whether these changes will impact on the economy of regional centres and towns in areas around the key national parks
Parks where it is proposed that fees for camping would change from 1 March 2014:
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Cape Conan Coastal Park
Mount Buffalo National Park
Grampians National Park
Great Otway National Park (Western)
Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park
Buchan Caves Reserve
Croajingolong National Park, Peachtree Reserve
Lower Glenelg National Park
Mt Eccles
Discovery Bay
Lake Eldon National Park
Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Parks
Cathedral Range State Park
Hattah Kulkyne National Park
Wyperfeld National Park
Upper Yarra Reservoir
Little Desert National Park
The Lakes National Park
Plenty Gorge Parklands
Ewing Morass W.R/Orbost
Yarra Valley Parklands
Kinglake National Park
Brisbane Ranges National Park
Parks where it is proposed that fees for roofed accommodation would change from 1 March 2014:
Buchan Caves Reserve
Cape Conran Coastal Park
Gabo Island Reserve
Murray Sunset National Park
Plenty Gorge Parklands Nioka Bush Camp
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Parks where it is proposed that fees for camping would be introduced from 1 March 2014:
Alpine National Park
Baw Baw National Park
Bunyip State Park
Broken Boosey State Park
Cape Liptrap Coastal Park
Cobboboonee National Park
French Island National Park
Lerderderg State Park
Mornington Peninsula National Park
Mount Samaria State Park
Mt Buangor State Park
The supporting documentation says “it is Victorian Government policy to specifically consider the impact of proposed amendments to legislative proposals on small business in RISs. However, in this case, the proposed Determination primarily imposes costs on individual visitors rather than on businesses. The businesses likely to be affected by the proposed fees are private providers of camping grounds and some licence tour operators who utilise camping and accommodation in parks”.
This seems to miss the point that there may be economic impacts on business operators outside the parks who may be adversely impacted by any change in people travelling through their region/ town on their way to national parks.
Victoria’s 7 peaks Alpine Ascent Challenge is an at-your-own pace cycling challenge which takes in all of Victoria’s Alpine Resorts.
The ‘riding season’ is now open. You can tackle the 7 Peaks (Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buffalo, Mt Buller, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Hotham, Lake Mountain) anytime from October 18 2013 to March 31 2014.
The challenge is for people – over the next five months – to ride each mountain at a time that suits them.
The organisers say: ‘The 7 Peaks passport will be the proof of your cycling toughness, stamping it along the way for every summit you successfully ride. Once you have completed your peaks and submitted your stamped passport, you will go into the draw to win some amazing prizes. Ride four peaks or more and you get the chance to win this year’s major prize. There’s also 7 amazing alpine winter experiences to be won’.
The Australian Electoral Commission has just declared the outcome for the Federal Seat of McEwen, in central eastern Victoria.
During the election campaign, the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association came out against the sitting Member, Rob Mitchell, because he opposed cattle grazing in the Alps.
“The Mountain Cattlemens Association of Victoria is a small group of people who have historically enjoyed something that few Australians have – free access to public assets to help build their wealth.”
“While we respect and admire their history and their traditions, it’s no longer possible to allow such a small group – mostly wealthy beef producers – to continue grazing cattle in areas that belong to the public, current and future generations.”
Mr Mitchell said there were many “intelligent, rational” reasons to keep cattle out of sensitive alpine ecosystems and noted NSW had decided to stop mountain cattle grazing in the late 1960s.
The Victorian Coalition is in thrall to the mountain cattlemen (as shown recently by them creating an advisory group on the Alpine Park stacked with grazing and pro-grazing interests). The state government was widely criticised for putting its political allegiance with the cattlemen ahead of good policy development in crafting its ‘fuel reduction’ grazing program, which was subsequently stopped after intervention by the federal government . As was reported in The Age, the government pushed ahead with its controversial grazing trial despite being told by Parks Victoria that no “scientific, social or economic evidence existed to support it”.
It would be worth the state government taking note of the fact that in spite of a nation wide swing against the ALP in the election, pro-grazing views within the electorate were not able to affect Mr Mitchell.
In an interesting side note, Victorian Liberal MP Donna Petrovich had resigned from state Parliament to stand against Rob Mitchell in the September election. She holds a regressive position on a range of climate related issues, including supporting continued use of coal and opposing wind energy.
On wind
In Hansard, Ms Petrovich raises various issues about what she sees as the ‘problems’ with wind energy: issues of reliability of wind, health risks, visual impacts.
Ms Petrovich is concerned that the previous government did not consult with the community over wind farm policy (yet she consistently refused to say who the Coalition consulted with in framing their policy).
She says that the No Go zones that block wind energy from much of the state were ‘carefully’ selected where communities ‘on the whole have told us that they are not appreciative of wind farms’. In the same speech she only mentioned anti-wind groups as being the groups she had worked with in forming her opinion rather than the broader community.
She endorses the Coalition’s anti wind policy VC82: ‘The position the government has come to is one that I am proud of.’ (Hansard, 12/10/11).
On coal she says:
“The Coalition looks towards the effectiveness and abundance of brown coal as a means to provide a reliable source of energy for Victorians”. (Hansard October 11, 2011).
Shortly after the election of the Coalition to power, the Mountain Cattleman’s Association of Victoria (September 17, 2013) issued a call for the new Federal government to overturn the current ban on grazing in the Alpine Park in Victoria.
In response, a spokesperson for Gippsland MHR Darren Chester said the federal government would “look at the issue should the state government put it forward”.
“Darren is still fully supportive (of cattle grazing) and we would be happy to take it to the party room if and when it happens.”
Such an action would be consistent with Mr Abbott’s intention to get rid of ‘green tape’ (ie, environmental protections), thereby removing the federal government from involvement in most key environmental decision making processes. It was only intervention by the previous Minister for the Environment, Tony Burke, that saw the removal of the cattle after they were introduced by the Victorian government.
If this troubles you, please contact the new Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, making it clear you would not support such a move.
Victoria’s environment minister Ryan Smith has appointed a new Alpine Advisory Committee dominated by pro-cattle-grazing members, including MLC for Eastern Victoria and vocal cattlemen supporter Phil Davis MP.
The committee’s task is to review the long-running Alpine National Park draft management plan, which has yet to be released for public comment.
Some commentators see this as the first step towards a bid to try once again to reintroduce cattle grazing to the park, particularly if there is a change of government federally.
A representative of the Prospectors and Miners Association is also included.
The environment minister seems to have mistakenly signed off on the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association Christmas card list, instead of appointing an independent advisory committee.
No nature conservation groups are represented.
Who is on the commitee?
Chair: Ewan Waller.
Members: Philip Davis, David Packham, Peter Attiwill, Russell Mullett, Ronald Moon, Walter Wright, Mervyn McGuire, Geoffrey Burrowes, Stephen Dingwall, Andrew Dwyer, Christopher Commins, Christa Treasure, Trudy Anderson and Peter Roper.
The following information comes from the Weekly Times and highlights the heavy weighting towards grazing and other extractive interests.
The committee is being chaired by former Department of Sustainability fire chief Ewan Waller who revealed its scope allows them to give advice on forest and crown land in the high country as well as national parks.
Members include two former Mountain Cattlemen’s Association presidents Ensay’s Chris Commins and Glenaladale’s Christa Treasure and another MCAV member Neville Wright of Bobinwarrah plus Alpine Shire Mayor and Tawonga producer Peter Roper, and Trudy Anderson of Benambra.
Also appointed were retired CSIRO scientist and former forest chief David Packham along with retired forest ecologist Peter Attiwill, both known advocates for greater planned burning.
The Man from Snowy River film producer and Mansfield farmer Geoffrey Burrowes has also been selected and the tourism industry is represented by Andrew Dwyer of Jamieson and outback adventurer Ronald Moon.
Other members are Eastern Region MLA Philip Davis, Prospectors and Miners Association representative Stephen Dingwall, recreational fishing advocate Mervyn McGuire, indigenous consultants Russell Mullett.
This is a great resource: the ‘gnarliest runs in Oz’, from the Huck & Dyno website (in two parts – Victoria and the Main Range in NSW).
The NSW feature has all the obvious things, and Victoria includes excellent coverage of places like Mt Buller, Feathertop and Bogong, and also some gems which are off the beaten track, like Mt Howitt.
A few years ago I put a lot of effort into expanding the ski wiki posts on backcountry skiing in Australia (mostly the VIC and TAS sections) but a big failure with this is the lack of images. In contrast to my effort, James and Sam, who are behind Huck & Dyno, have some gorgeous pictures of the mountains and general terrain, plus many of the actual runs. Visually beautiful.
I like their intro:
When you get down to it, Australia is the flattest driest continent on Earth. By definition, the skiing here is the worst in the world. … So it’s easy to write the place off as a land of sunburnt sweeping plains. Or, if you’re a skier, patchy cover, ice and crud, short shallow runs and snowmaking.
Even the highest mountain, good old Kosciuszko, is a hill with a road to the top… The very first time I ever went XC skiing, we made it to the top! Snowboarders were drinking beer up there! Fun for the whole family!
The enthusiastic might even bother to look over at the ‘Main Range’, hoping to see a craggier peak. But nope, Mount Townsend and Northcote and Lee all look pretty tame over there.
But then one day you’ll bother to climb the second highest peak, Mount Townsend, and have a look from the top of there and, HOLY CRAP, there it is…
So begins our investigation into the gnarliest lines in Oz.
With winter finally bearing down on us, I hope this inspires you. Get out there and enjoy!
The following news item comes from The Age newspaper, journalist Darren Gray.
Image: SMH
The grand old dame of Victoria’s alpine country, the Mount Buffalo Chalet, will reopen its doors once a $7 million project to refurbish the historic building and establish a day visitor centre and, hopefully, a cafe is complete.
The first clean-up works inside the 103-year-old chalet, closed since January 2007, are expected to start within weeks. But the project is more than a facelift, because outbuildings as well as some rooms that were not part of the original structure are likely to be demolished. Building assessments and recommendations will be carried out soon.
Environment Minister Ryan Smith will announce the project today and say the government is committed to preserving the building for future generations and ensuring ”the site is primed and ready for appropriate future investment.”
In an interview with Fairfax Media on Friday, he said the chalet was ”an icon in the area. It’s a state asset. We need to make sure that we can get people up there. I’m passionate about getting as many people into our parks as possible.”
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”We want to make sure it’s useful, rather than just spending taxpayers’ money on maintaining something that’s not actually being used. So I think it’s important that we do get it back to some useable state.”
Mr Smith said the project, expected to take about a year, would pave the way for development, subject to national parks guidelines. Recent research found no private operator was interested in the site in its current state.
In about a year the government would call for expressions of interest for the site. ”Everything’s on the table, as long as it conforms to our guidelines around tourism development in these national parks,” he said.
Asked if the chalet could once again offer accommodation, he said: ”I’d leave it to commercial forces … But I’d look at anything. What I hope is that we get something that’s sustainable. I don’t want to look back in three years or five years or whatever and say ‘That didn’t work’.”
The works will be funded by a $4.7 million insurance payout for bushfire damage on Mount Buffalo and a contribution from the state’s Regional Growth Fund.
Mayor of the Alpine Shire, Peter Roper, said the project was ”absolutely fantastic news” that would be welcomed by locals.
The main fire is the ABERFELDY – DONNELYS complex and it has already burnt more than 44,000 ha (as at 18 Jan). It started in the Aberfeldy area to the east of the Thomson Dam and Baw Baw plateau. It has now burnt east as far as the Licola road.
Check further down this page for updates on a fire that started Jan 21 in the north west spur area around Mt Feathertop.
UPDATE March 5:
VicRoads will open the Great Alpine Road to light traffic for the Labour Day long weekend, despite the ongoing maintenance and recovery works required after the Harrietville – Alpine North bushfires.
UPDATE, Feb 27: significant rain over the past day has greatly reduced fire activity across the Alps. The road from Heyfield to Licola has now been opened, as is the road from Omeo to Hotham Village.
The Great Alpine Road remains closed between Harrietville and Hotham and will remain so until further notice. Landslips on this road have added to the workload of removing ‘up to 10,000 fire killed trees’ along the GAR on this section.
Aberfeldy fire
UPDATE: Feb 15.
RECENT mild weather is helping suppression activities for the Aberfeldys-Donnellys fire and any more rain will ease conditions further.
The Aberfeldy fire has burned through 84,100 hectares and has a perimeter of almost 400 kilometres. Firefighters have constructed control lines on more than 300 kilometres of that perimeter by hand, with machinery and from the air.
Today, there are 295 personnel working on the fire, supported by 11 tankers, 87 slip-on units (4WD vehicles), 14 dozers and seven aircraft.
Further control lines are being constructed near the junction of Hickeys Creek Track and the southern end of Mt Margaret Track to protect the Avon Wilderness.
Backburning operations in the area will continue when weather conditions allow.
UPDATE: Feb 11:
The CFA reports:
Country Fire Authority and DSE advise that there is fire activity and suppression works in the Licola, Glenfalloch, Wollangarra, Glencairn area.
This bushfire is being controlled.
There is backburning on private property west of the Macalister River between Glenfalloch and Licola. Residents of Licola and surrounds may see active fire and there will be considerable smoke.
This message applies to the town of Licola and areas of Glenfalloch, Wollangarra and Glencairn.
This fire has burnt through approximately 82,522 hectares.
Control lines are being constructed on the Mt Margaret Track in an attempt to halt the easterly spread of the fire.
Machinery continues to work along the public-private interface north of Licola and around Glencairn.
Melbourne Water and DSE crews are patrolling on the south end of South Rd, near Mt Useful where back burning operations have been undertaken.
THE public can access Walhalla and Licola after a number of roads closed due to the Aberfeldy-Donnelly Fire were re-opened.
The fire is continuing to burn but is being controlled.
As Saturday morning, an area of 69,823 hectares has been burnt with a fire perimeter approximately 416 kilometres in length with 220km of control line built.
About 438 personnel, 150 vehicles, 21 dozers and 14 aircraft are involved in fighting the fire.
Among the roads opened include Licola Rd and Walhalla Rd only to the Thompson Dam Access Road.
UPDATE: Jan 27: The CFA reports that:
This bushfire is being controlled.
The fire has now burnt 71,000 ha.
UPDATE: Jan 25:ABC is reporting that ‘Towns to the south of the Aberfeldy bushfire could soon be under threat with northerly winds expected to strengthen overnight’.
Authorities remain concerned that hot winds could cause the Aberfeldy-Donnellys bushfire to jump control lines this morning.
The fire has now burnt 67,000 ha.
UPDATE: Jan 24. The CFA is reporting that the fire is being contained. Wind conditions have favoured crews working to build containment lines around the bushfire this morning, however, a predicted wind change is expected to challenge crews this afternoon.
The Alpine National Park and the Avon Wilderness Park are now officially closed.
DSE and CFA crews have been working to consolidate containment lines ahead of a predicted wind change on Friday afternoon.
The Aberfeldy bushfire is now around 62,000 hectares in size and has destroyed 22 homes.
Deputy Incident Controller Adrian Gutsche said a change forecast for the wind change had delayed the risk “by 12 hours”.
Mr Gutsche said crews had been working to consolidate firebreaks and control lines to the south of the fire zone ahead of a predicted wind change on Friday.
UPDATE: Jan 23. The CFA reports that the fire has now burnt 63,233 ha. There will be ‘aerial ignition within control lines east of Walhalla occurring today’ and additional control lines on the Walhalla – Cowwarr road.
UPDATE: Jan 22. The CFA reports that ‘this bushfire is being controlled.
The Aberfeldy Road is closed north of Beardmore.
Burning out operations are continuing north east of Walhalla and east of Aberfeldy.
There was increased fire activity north of Walhalla overnight’
About 600 crews, 130 vehicles and 13 aircraft are involved in fighting the fire, which is now 61,783 hectares in size with the fire perimeter now 322 kilometres.
Fire behaviour is expected to increase slightly as the temperature rises during the day and crews will continue backburning operations and building containment lines.
A critical 190 hectare backburn will reduce fuel loads in the unburnt area 5km south of Glenmaggie and 6km north-west of Heyfield. Smoke will be visible from surrounding communities.
UPDATE. Jan 21. The access to the mountains via Licola are still closed off. Restricted access has now been restored to Licola Rd, all the way from Licola to Heyfield.
Residents of the immediate area; people providing recovery and relief services, council or VicRoads employees or sub-contractors, and business owners in the immediate area can now access Licola.
Victoria Police has reiterated that many roads in the Seaton, Glenmaggie and Heyfield area are restricted to local access only.
Police will be actively patrolling the area and have asked drivers to take care on the roads and avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in fire-affected areas.
Department of Sustainability and Environment conducted a 180 hectare backburn Sunday morning in an unburnt area five kilometres south of Glenmaggie and 6km north-west of Heyfield.
This fire will remain active into Monday and possibly longer.
UPDATE. Jan 20. The Department of Sustainability and Environment advise that there is a planned 180 hectare back burn occuring in the Heyfield District area. The fire is still being contained. It has burnt 57,726 hectares.
UPDATE. As of Jan 19, the fire is still moving and has burnt out 52,669 ha.
The fire as at 19 Jan. Despite some claims from the usual (anti green) sources, the fire didn’t start in a national park.
At this point (Jan 18) this is the only significant fire burning near the high country. There were media reports earlier in the day that this fire complex was heading for the Avon wilderness.
TEN Licola locals are trapped as an out-of-control bushfire heads towards the township.
Victorian Fire Services Commisioner Craig Lapsley confirmed 90 school children at a camp in Licola had been relocated to Traralgon safely but ten locals remained isolated in the town.
There are five fire crews with the residents battling the blaze which is expected to hit between 4pm and 6pm this afternoon.
The Licola Rd has been closed since this morning leaving remaining residents no way to leave.
The blaze is now more than 44,500ha in size and creating spot fires 2-4km in front of it.
Mr Lapsley warned the fire, which still also threatens the townships of Seaton, Heyfield and Glenmaggie, could burn for as long as two weeks if mother nature was not kind.
“This has the potential to be a two-week fire fight,” he said.
“We would hope this weekend would be kind to us but there is no rain forecast.
“Without rain or moisture it’s very hard to bring it to a controlled position.”
He described the fire as difficult and unpredictable and said as the blaze spread into remote bushland it got harder to control from the ground.
There are more than 70 firetrucks, about 200 firefighters and 13 helicopters working to control the fire.
Five homes have already been destroyed in Seaton.
Heyfield incident controller Laurie Jeremiah told a media briefing at Seaton this morning that five homes were believed to have been burnt at Seaton and a family had been trapped in their house but were able to escape.
Mr Jeremiah also confirmed a fire tanker had been burnt.
The crew members took shelter in the vehicle while the fire went over and escaped unharmed, he said.
Mr Lapsley said the extent of damage to livestock and farm land was still unclear but would unfold in coming days and weeks.
“There will be damage to fencing and there will have to be damage to livestock,” he said.
“(Damage to livestock) is not something we have been able to calculate but there will be losses in those areas.”
The Harrietville–Alpine South fire has not spread much overnight, but there will be increased smoke visible from communities today as backburning operations progress.
The fire is now 12,130 hectares, with a perimeter of 228 kilometres.
The fire continues to burn in steep, rugged terrain with limited access for on-ground fire fighter crews.
Ongoing asset protection, suppression and patrolling activities continue around Mt Hotham, Dinner Plain and Dargo.
Areas of sensitive natural values including cultural heritage places, threatened species and critical breeding habitat have been identified and protective works undertaken.
Combined, the north and south fires are 30,400ha.
The Great Alpine Rd has reopened to the public from Dinner Plain towards Omeo yesterday at 7pm. From Mt Hotham to Dinner Plain, access is restricted to residents, essential services, accredited media and individuals or groups delivering relief and aid to residents and to animals.
UPDATE: Feb 13. Backburning continues to protect Dinner Plain. The southern fire front is moving roughly south eastwards, to the south of Dinner Plain.
the fire, showing recent back burning lines around Dinner Plain, as at 12 Feb
THE Harrietville-Alpine fire remains active in the Dargo River valley area north of Dargo, however moist and cooler weather conditions have resulted in a decrease in fire activity.
The Harrietville-Alpine South fire is about 7127 hectares, and is not yet under control. With the north and south areas combined, the Harrietville-Alpine fire is 23,411ha.
The focus of firefighters is on both asset protection and back burning to contain the fire.
Back burning work is likely to continue for at least the next week. Residents and visitors to the area are asked to take extra care when travelling on local roads, as they are likely to experience increased smoke across roads and in the community, increased firefighting activity, and a greater number of emergency vehicles travelling in the area.
Back burning operations began Sunday afternoon along the southern edge of the Great Alpine Rd from the Alpine Resorts Commission entrance between Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham Resorts down to Dinner Plain Track.
Road closures remain in place, and anyone intending on travelling in the area should check with VicRoads for any updates.
The Great Alpine Rd is closed between Harrietville and Dinner Plain.Dargo-High Plains Rd is closed between the Great Alpine Rd and Dargo until further notice. Access to forests and parks north of Dargo is restricted as a result of this closure.
The Alpine National Park is closed east of Harrietville extending along Westons Spur Track to the Australian Alps Walking Track to Pretty Valley Track, then south to the Great Alpine Rd to the boundary of the Alpine National Park and Dinner Plain State Forest.
Mount Feathertop and its approaches are closed.
State Forest north of the fire area including the West Kiewa is also closed.
UPDATE. Feb 8. After a few days of continued fire control and mild conditions, fire activity has heightened considerably, putting Hotham village at direct risk. The fire is now operating on two main fronts. The fire was previously referred to as the ‘Harrietville – Feathertop Fire.’ It has been split into two fire sectors – the ‘Harrietville – Alpine North Fire’ and ‘Harrietville – Alpine South Fire’.
See below for update from Mt Hotham management:
The ‘Harrietville – Alpine Fires’ remains classified as ‘going’, no asset losses have been reported to date.
The wind direction has remained ‘NNW’ all day and with a wind speed of 30 kmh with gusts up to 50 kmh. Humidity is low at 33%.
Harrietville – Alpine South’ fire is firmly established in the ‘Dargo’ and has increased in size significantly during the course of the day. The fire is visually prominent SW of the village, along ‘Morning Star Spur’ and below ‘St Bernard’ and is moving up toward Baldy Creek to the SW of the resort centre. This fire activity is of concern – heavy aerial water bombing has been undertaken all day so as to prevent the fire moving into Baldy Hollow (immediately below the Village Centre and Summit). One Erickson Skycrane and two bucket equipped heavy lift helicopters with have been refilling from the snowmaking dam at Loch every 7 minutes all day. Dam capacity has been maintained. CFA/DSE expect the ‘Alpine South Fire’ to make further SSE runs in the untracked forest of the ‘Dargo’ until at least late Sat/early Sunday given the predicted weather conditions.
The control strategies for this part of the fires are limited due the dense nature and ruggedness of the terrain. The ‘Swift’s Creek’ ICC has indicated an ‘indirect attack/asset protection’ strategy aimed at keeping the main fire east of the ‘Dargo High Plains’ Road.
The ‘Harrietville – Alpine North’ fire continues to move through high elevation forest that was burnt in 2003 and 2006. The fire has now burnt down to the ‘Diamantina River’ along a 500m stretch – which proposes a potential threat to the Resort Water Catchment. Resort Management staff have observed smoke continuing to rise from the ‘Diamantina Area’, which indicates that the fire is still active, despite aerial suppression. CFA/DSE have reported that the hot edge on the Diamantina River continues to hold west of the river, but many hot spots remain, right down to the river bank. Felled timber on the helipad has delayed insertion of crews this morning, but crews are now working after the pad was aerial bombed. Options for providing water-pumping capability for ground crews to black out this edge are being explored
An aerial infrared scan (FLIR flight) this morning showed going fire continuing to back down in a westerly direction into the West Ovens and the upper part of the East Buckland catchments. The fire is also continuing to burn slowly down steep slopes into the headwaters of the Dargo catchment. It has reached the upper reaches of the Dargo River in some places and has uphill runs available to it once it crosses. The fire has burnt in a broad front southward along both sides of the Dargo High Plains Road. A further aerial FLIR scan will be flown this afternoon if time and conditions permit.
Note: A ‘Watch & Act’ message for Hotham and Dinner plain remains in place and ‘Advice messages’ for Harrietville, Dargo, Cobungra, Omeo, Swifts Creek and Ensay.
Today, Saturday and Sunday are classified ‘high-risk’.
UPDATE. Feb 6. Backburning has been carried out south of Harrietville and along the Great Alpine Road on the south western side of Hotham summit in recent days.
CFA reports that:
This fire is yet to be contained
Fire activity has increased significantly this afternoon and increased smoke will be evident.
The fire has the potential to cross the Great Alpine Road approximately 12 kilometres south of Harrietville heading in a westerly direction.
Back burning along the Great Alpine Road near Baldy Hollow. Image: Dinner Plain Alpine Village facebook
UPDATE: Feb 3. The Harrietville-Feathertop fire has now burnt more than 6,100 hectares of the Alpine National Park.
Alpine National Park is closed east of Harrietville extending along Westons Spur Track to the Australian Alps Walking Track to Pretty Valley Track, then south to the
Great Alpine Road to the boundary of the Alpine National Park and Dinner Plain State Forest. Mount Feathertop and its approaches are still closed.
Backburning will be carried out to the south of Harrietville between Old Coach Road and the East Ovens River.
The Great Alpine Road is still closed between Harrietville and Dinner Plain.
UPDATE. Feb 1. Spot fires occured within Hotham Village and have all now been controlled. However, CFA reports that the main fire is still not yet under control.
This bushfire is approximately 5000 hectares in size and is out of control.
The Hotham Dinner Plain community meeting will be held at 3pm Saturday February 2 at Rundells Alpine Lodge Dinner Plain.
The Great Alpine Road is closed between Harrietville and Dinner Plain and the Dargo High Plains Road is closed.
The Feathertop fire as of Jan 31
UPDATE. Jan 31. After a quiet few days, the fire is again threatening surrounding towns. The CFA reports:
There is a large, fast moving bushfire in the Mount Hotham and Hotham Heights area. It is travelling in asouth– south westerly direction.
This fire is expected to impact anytime within the next hour.
This bushfire is approximately 4100 hectares in size and is out of control, currently creating spot-fires approximately 2-3km/s ahead.
Relocation is not advisable. If required head to the neighborhood safer place.
UPDATE: Jan 28. The same as yesterday (see below). Additionally, the CFA advises that:
The Alpine National Park is closed east of Harrietville, west of Mt Cope, south of Mt Jim and north of the Great Alpine Road
UPDATE: Jan 27. The CFA reports that:
There is still fire activity near Harrietville township. This fire is yet to be contained and considerable work will be occurring over coming weeks. The Great Alpine Road and the Dargo High Plains Road are now open. Motorists are urged to use caution as emergency vehicles will be in the area.
Hotham Heights is not listed as being at risk at present, the main focus is around Harrietville. The fire has burnt an area of around 3,000 ha.
UPDATE: Jan 25: ABC reports that ‘Strong northerly wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour are fanning the flames of two bushfires burning in Victoria’s east. The winds are expected to intensify a fire in the Alpine region near Harrietville and Hotham Heights‘.
A watch and act alert remains in place for both of those communities.
Overnight there has been benign fire behaviour, with limited spread of fire since midnight. A short section of fire has continued to back down to the control line around private property north of Harrietville, but has not caused control problems. The weather forecast indicates that Mt Hotham could be impacted by fire in the next 24hrs
UPDATE: Jan 24. The CFA report that the fire is still moving rapidly, and it is travelling in a south easterly direction.
This fire is expected to impact Hotham Heights, Harrietville anytime within the next 24 hours.
There is no evacuation order for Harrietville. Residents without fire plan are being advised to leave by 6pm today. A Watch and Act notice remains in place for the communities of Hotham Heights and Dinner Plain.
This fire is expected to impact Falls Creek, Hotham Heights, Harrietville anytime within the next 24 hours.
The Great Alpine Road is closed between Harrietville and Hotham Heights.
UPDATE. Jan 23. The fire has continued overnight and the great alpine road is still closed, as are a number of parks in the area plus the Alpine National Park in the Feathertop vicinity. Check here for all closures.
Emergency services safely evacuated 37 hikers from the Mt Feathertop – Razorback walking tracks via helicopter.
The fire has burnt around 850 hectares in steep, dense bushland.
While no towns are directly under threat at this stage, fire services will closely monitor the fire and work hard to build containment lines today ahead of severe fire danger tomorrow.
UPDATE. Jan 22. 5pm. CFA are now advising:
This is a large, fast moving bushfire. It is travelling in a south easterly direction.
This fire is expected to impact Davenport Village, Falls Creek, Hotham Heights, Harrietville, Smoko anytime within the next 6 to 24 hours.
The great alpine road is closed between harrietville and Hotham Heights
Bushwalkers and other forest users are advised to avoid walking tracks in the Alpine National Park east of Harrrietville
It is described as being in the RAZORBACK NORTH WALKING TRK area, above the towns of Smoko, Freeburgh, and Harrietville.
Although described by the CFA as being ‘small’ the fire caused the Great Alpine Road to be closed on Jan 22.
A number of other small fires were reported on Jan 21 and 22 in the area, including one near Tawonga South and one near Falls Creek.
The federal Greens have been successful in getting a Senate Inquiry into extreme weather. This is a significant opportunity for the government to consider the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on local communities, landscapes and economies in the Alpine region.
It would be useful if you or your business or group were be able to make a brief submission to the inquiry about the threat of extreme weather and climate change in your community, and the impacts it has already had or is predicted to have. See below for some ideas on making a submission.
Time is short – we only have until January 18.
You may also want to make a formal request for the committee to visit your area and host a public hearing to take submissions from people who live in or are reliant on good winters to keep the local economy strong.
The snow industry – the canary in the cage when it comes to climate change?
The winter sports industry/community is deeply dependent upon predictable, heavy snowfall, but climate change is expected to contribute to warmer winters, reduced snowfall, and shorter snow seasons.
A recent US study, commissioned by Protect Our Winters (POW) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), shows that the U.S. ski and snowmobile winter sports industry is currently worth an estimated $12.2 billion each year, and has already felt the direct impact of decreased winter snowpack and rising average winter temperatures.
As the authors note in the report, “climate change spells trouble for all businesses dependent on winter weather including snowboarding, snowshoeing and skiing. The shrinking numbers of winter sports tourists also affect restaurants, lodging, gas stations, grocery stores, bars” and other businesses.
Bogong High Plains fires, 2007
Here in Australia, winters are already becoming warmer and more erratic, and this impacts on the quality and quantity of snow.
According to Dr. David Bain, in the high Alps from 1950 to 2007 there has been an increase in winter temperatures approaching 1°C, and over much the same period (1957 to 2011), Australia has seen a slow decrease in snow depth. The mid-winter snow depths have only decreased a small amount, whereas spring snow depth has dropped by almost 40%. The obvious impact here is that the resort season becomes shorter, making it more difficult to make a profit on infrastructure that is located in resorts year round.
While resorts have invested in extra snow making capacity and are seeking to build visitation outside of the winter months, the majority of infrastructure is based around winter sports. Snow making will become more expensive in coming years as energy prices rise, and this will impact on resort profit margins and hence viability. As was highlighted in the 2012 document the Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan, “cost pressures are a major problem for many on-mountain businesses and site holders”.
Science suggests that without determined action to reduce climate change, we can expect to see less and less reliable snow falls in coming years.
According to the government commissioned report ‘Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments’, the Alps face an average temperature rise of between 0.6 and 2.9 degrees centigrade by 2050, depending on how much action the international community takes to combat climate change.
Rain, snow and other precipitation is expected to decrease up to 24% over the next four decades, accompanied by more bushfires, droughts, severe storms and rapid runoff, causing heavy erosion. Additionally, what precipitation we get could become more erratic. For instance, it is likely there will be more storm events in summer, which could be expected to impact on outdoor recreation and especially organised events like bike rides and festivals. The 2003 and 2006/2007 fires in Alpine regions are an indicator of what could come with enhanced global warming. These shut down tourism across sections of eastern Victoria, with dramatic impacts on businesses reliant on summer tourism.
The Caring for our Australian Alps Catchments report says that our ski slopes could be completely bare of natural winter snow by 2050 unless concerted action is taken against global warming.
The erratic weather will also be felt in winter, with corresponding impacts on economies. The US report notes that in that country, the downhill ski resort industry is estimated to have lost $1.07 billion in aggregated revenue between low and high snow fall years over the last decade: if the snow is bad, many people will simply cancel their holiday. So even if there is some snow cover, erratic weather can still have impacts.
All of this will be a disaster for skiers, boarders and all who spend their time in the Alps.
Buffalo Plateau from Big Hill
But it will also be devastating for local economies. In Victoria, the alpine resorts are estimated to have contributed $570 million and 5,800 Full-Time Equivalent jobs to the Victorian economy in winter alone for 2011 (source: Alpine Resorts Strategic Plan 2012, p13). The flow on effects of the industry is felt in towns throughout north east Victoria and around the Snowy Mountains, including the development of niche agriculture economies which is, in part, supported by snow-based tourism. To take one example of local benefits, the ‘gross regional profit’ of Alpine Shire was increased by about $130 million in 2011 because of the presence of the alpine resorts. The negative impacts of the bushfires on Murrindindi Shire in this same period indicate what climate change and extreme weather events could mean in future for all shires across the state.
According to the Economic Significance of the Australian Alpine Resorts report (2011), the combined benefit for the three Australian States with alpine resorts in 2005 is calculated to be $1.3 billion with 17,050 annual equivalent employment opportunities.
As the US report concludes: “all of this translates into less snow and fewer people on the slopes, which results in massive economic hardship for resorts, states, local communities, businesses and their employees.” Please write a submission
In order to protect the alpine environments that we love and the many thousands of people and businesses who depend on a snow-filled season, we must act now to support policies that protect our climate, and in turn, our slopes.
Apart from any direct impacts you are concerned about, you might want to mention that the latest science is showing that the impacts of climate change are happening faster than expected, and that communities will require funding to deal with the worst predicted outcomes. There must be greater community engagement about adaptation to climate change. However, responding to climate change (‘adaptation’) is not enough: we must also respond to the causes of climate change – by reducing emissions (‘mitigation’).
Check here for climate change scenarios for the Alps.
If you would like the Senate Inquiry to visit your town to hear your concerns about climate change and extreme weather, please check here.
Submissions are due on 18 January with the final report due from the Senate Committee on 20th March.
The Gunns from The Twins (Buffalo plateau in background)
Leading up from the plains of north eastern Victoria, there are many hundreds of ridges that snake up to the Great Divide. It is the higher, alpine ranges that get most of the attention from walkers. Yet there are some great walking opportunities in the mid level ranges, although you will often have to share the trail with 4WDs and trail bikes.
One obvious trip in the Mount Hotham area is Mt Sugarloaf and the highpoint of The Gunns. This is the highest section of a range that starts just near Bright and climbs through Mt Ebenezer and gradually towards the Divide, reaching its highest point at Mt St Bernard.
Lake Mountain, Melbourne’s closest and most affordable alpine resort, will soon be given over to developers in a long‐term lease that effectively privatises public land.
“The Baillieu Government should not be acting like a real estate agent for land that belongs to all Victorians. It should be managing our natural heritage responsibly, for future generations,” the Victorian National Parks Association’s Phil Ingamells said today.
“The Baillieu Government’s announcement that it is handing over management of the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort to a private recreation company, in preparation for auctioning the leasehold, may be the first of many such developments. Our alpine resorts, national parks and other public land are all vulnerable to this policy,” he said.
Importantly the Alpine Resorts Act, which governs the management of Victoria’s alpine resorts, makes it clear that resorts are for the use of all sections of the community, not just the big spenders.
A recent State Services Authority inquiry into Victoria’s alpine resort management said the resorts need to provide for a far greater section of the community, not just high‐end tourism.
The inquiry also recommended that resorts such as Lake Mountain, which will be the first to lose their snow cover as global warming increases, should be placed under the management of Parks Victoria.
“But the Baillieu Government seems determined to hand our finest bits of public land over to private control, and make them playgrounds for the wealthy,” said Mr Ingamells.
“Developments in private hands inevitably grow. This is a short‐sighted move, and one that will be very hard to reverse. Victorians of the future will almost certainly look back at this time with great regret.”
The Victorian government has announced that it is intending to introduce charges for overnight hiking and camping in more than 100 of our state and national parks.
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