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Victorian Alps

Mt Buffalo chalet rescue plan rejected

The following comes from the Border Mail in Albury. Journalist is Brad Worrall. Nov 22, 2011

Image: SMH

THE future of the historic Mount Buffalo Chalet is again in limbo with the Victorian government rejecting the latest rescue bid.

Mount Buffalo Community Enterprise’s $50 million plan to refurbish the attraction was dismissed by Environment Minister Ryan Smith in a letter two weeks ago.

He said the government was not in a position to fund the proposal at this stage.

But Mount Buffalo Community Enterprise chairman John Brown wants to know what happens next.

“We have written to the Premier to seek clarification on what their plans are to save the chalet,” he said.

“If not our plan, then what and by when?

“The concept plan, which has already withstood close scrutiny from an architectural, heritage and financial perspective, involves a contemporary chalet redevelopment.

“It would breathe new life back into the chalet and the mountain.

“Now all we get is a letter and that is a little dismissive.”
The plan submitted to the government would result in a 99-room hotel-guest house combining contemporary accommodation and preserving the key heritage components of the old chalet.

The plan included low-emissions solar power systems and a new interpretative centre.

The group did not intend to reinstate the ski fields on the Ovens Valley plateau.

The state government would have been required to put up $33 million for the venture, with no return on the taxpayers’ investment.

More than 50 per cent of the profits would have been returned to the community.

Mr Brown wonders whether the government is hoping for a white knight.

“The decision to appoint us came after two rounds of advertising,” he said.

“We were clearly the most attractive option to government at that time, so who will come to the chalet’s rescue now?

“The truth is, today, we are no closer to saving Mount Buffalo chalet than we were five years ago.

“That’s of grave concern to us.

“If the community shares our concern now’s the time to speak up.”

The chalet has been closed since January 2007 in the wake of the bushfires in the North East and an ensuing lease dispute.

Mount Buffalo Community Enterprise’s involvement followed an extensive tender process over 18 months.

In October last year the group entered a 12-month exclusive negotiation period with Parks Victoria.

A $200,000 state bovernment grant and $250,000 of their own money paid for a viability study and the business plan.

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Bogong Moth migration

Image: CSIRO

I keep hearing reports of Bogong Moth’s moving through Canberra, and thought I would add this link to a great overview of this iconic species.

Bogong Moths, Agrostis infusa, migrate over 1,000 km each year from the black soil plains of Queensland and western NSW to the Australian Alps, seeking refuge from the summer heat. Along the way, they travel by night and then in the morning, drop down to the ground to rest in the shade during the day.

This article was written by Abbie Thomas and is available here.

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volunteers needed to protect the Bogong High Plains from Hawkweed

2011/12 Victorian Alps Hawkweed Surveillance Volunteer Program

Help to protect Australia’s biodiversity from King Devil and Orange Hawkweed on the Bogong High Plains

Orange Hawkweed. Image: Parks Victoria

Native to Europe, Hawkweeds have recently become established on mainland Australia. Posing a serious threat to Australian biodiversity and the structure of natural communities, it is imperative that the incursion is eradicated before it’s too late.

Hawkweeds spread quickly via runners and above-ground roots forming dense mats, inhibiting and out-competing native vegetation. In grassy ecosystems like the High Plains, dense patches of the weed dominate the spaces between grass tussocks that are vital for the survival and recruitment of native flora and fauna.

Survey sessions will be conducted during the active flowering period. All of the sessions will be five days long. Attendance for the full sessions is preferred but is not essential.

Accommodation will be provided at Falls Creek. Breakfast and snacks will be provided as well as one dinner at a local eatery, other meals self catered. Transport will be provided from Falls Creek.

The surveys for 2011/2012 season will be held over the following dates:
Session 1: Tuesday the 27th – Saturday the 31st of December
Session 2: Monday the 16th – Friday the 20th of January

For more information or to express your interest in the program, please contact:
Keith Primrose
hawkweed@parks.vic.gov.au
Mt. Beauty Parks Victoria Office: (03) 5754 4693

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Federal Government gets power to ban alpine cattle grazing

Image: ABC

This story by Mary Goode comes from the ABC.

The Federal Government has introduced a regulation under national law that overrides the Victorian Government on Alpine cattle grazing.

Environment Minister Tony Burke today annunced that the new regulation under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodverisity Act means that the Gillard Labor Government now has power to stop the Baillieu Liberal Government from introducing cattle into Victoria’s Alpine National Park without proper scrutiny.

“The Baillieu Government was wrong to reintroduce cattle to the Alpine National Park and has set a dangerous precedent for the management of national parks across Australia,” Mr Burke said.

“This whole debacle has been another reminder that when the Liberals win, the environment loses.”

Mr Burke says he is also consulting with state and territory governments on a proposed new regulation which would give extra protection to national parks across Australia.

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‘Hybrid mountain pygmies hold hope of a bright future’

Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus). Source: Department of the Environment and Heritage

This article comes from The Age. Journalist: Bridie Smith.

Since 2007, the mountain pygmy possum captive breeding program at Healesville Sanctuary – the only one of its kind in Australia – has been breeding hybrid animals, with one parent from Mt Buller and the other from Mt Hotham.

The first hybrid litter was born in 2008. Now, Melbourne University researchers have shown for the first time that hybrid males are fertile – providing a vital new path for boosting the species’ genetic diversity.

Full story here.

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Green groups ridicule Alpine grazing report

This report comes from The Age, journalists are Josh Gordon and Tom Arup.

A REPORT on the government’s controversial grazing trial in the Alpine National Park has been ridiculed by environmentalists .

Critics said the report — which found ‘‘ large grazing areas with abundant food are preferred by cattle’ ’ and that fences can be useful to keep cattle out of sensitive areas — revealed nothing new.

They said the report on last summer’s trial, released without fanfare by the state government yesterday, represented an expensive and politically motivated exercise that has added no new knowledge about whether grazing cuts the risk of bushfires.

Victorian National Parks Association spokesman Phil Ingamells said the results ‘‘ must be a considerable embarrassment to the government’’ , showing the trial was a waste of time and money, with the effort better spent ridding the park of feral animals and weeds.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment report concluded that cattle damage is most visible in wet areas, that cattle don’t like steep areas occupied by unpalatable shrubs and that they prefer eating exotic grass species over native species.

The report, which will form the basis of a five-year trial, also says the DSE engaged a consultant who confirmed that the government’s choice of remote sites for the trial had made access difficult.

The Age revealed in July the state government had launched a second attempt to reintroduce cattle to the park, after last summer’s trial was derailed by a federal finding that it could represent a ‘‘ controlled action’ ’ under the Commonwealth environment law.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has promised to stop the trial by including almost all of Australia’s 500-odd national parks — the domain of state governments — under federal laws, giving him power to block new grazing, logging and mining projects in the parks.

Mr Burke has now promised the states a lengthy consultation process for the changes to all parks, but will pass a specific regulation to protect just the Alpine National Park in coming months to try to head off any grazing this summer.

Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith vowed last night to continue with the trial next summer.

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news on Buffalo Chalet future soon?

This article comes from the Bright Observer, journalist: ALEX BAIRD

Hopes are high

Group waits for government to back push to give chalet new lease of life

The Gorge, Buffalo Plateau

DESPITE no word from the State Government on the future of the Mount Buffalo Chalet, hope remains strong among members of the consortium fighting to reopen the building that a positive outcome will occur.

The Mt Buffalo Community Enterprise (MBCE) group submitted a comprehensive proposal to Parks Victoria in May, which was designed to show the merits of returning the chalet to its former glory.

MBCE executive director Mark McKenzie-McHarg said while talks were still in place, there had been no official word from the government on whether it would back the chalet, which has been closed since 2007 after a lease dispute.

“There’s no further news at this stage, but we are hoping to hear something in the coming weeks,” he said.

“We are involved in discussions and are hopeful we can come to some sort of arrangement.

“We still feel positive, we don’t have any certainty about this.

“It’s a big project and we feel it’s important to be patient.”

For any plans to go ahead to restore the famous building, Mr McKenzie-McHarg said it would need a “significant government contribution” and while the group had plenty of local support, until a government response was forthcoming, the group wasn’t getting too excited.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from a range of different community groups,” he said.

“We really need the State Government to commit, but until that happens we aren’t trying to have too big a profile.

“We think it’s important to be patient, because it’s such a big project, we’ve already submitted business cases and proposals.

“If we do get their backing, that’s when we’d go out and try and get more people onboard.”

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Mount Stirling, late spring

near Stirling summit

As spring bears down on us, I know lots of people are off on last minute missions to the hills before its all over. Am off soon to Mt Stirling to see whats on offer in Stanley Bowl. It reminded me of this nice little story from my friend Andrew from last spring.

“Below, one last drop before the long summer and dusty roads and work and endless heat, waiting for those cold fronts to push through off the southern ocean. Just before I drop, I feel on the cusp of height and gravity, a small, fleeting moment of grace. I wait a minute more, weightless and happy and alone and yet in company. The whole world below beckons, and I treasure the thought of those few minutes of turns and no time for any other thoughts, and then push off into that space and that moment. One last time”.

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another reminder that Alpine grazing ‘trial’ is just about politics

Once again, the media is reporting further evidence that the controversial alpine grazing re-introduced to Victoria’s alpine national park early this year has very little to do with scientific research and a lot to do with grubby politics.

The following article comes from The Age, the journalist is Melissa Fyfe.

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greetings from the Wonnangatta

'keep it cool. Stop climate change'. Dinner Plain, June 2011

Ben Laycock is a “painter and occasional sculptor” from Castlemaine in Central Victoria. His wonderfully vivid paintings are his interpretation of the essence of the landscapes he visits and works in. He is turning his hand to writing and we will feature some of his work on the site in coming months.

His first installment, ‘greetings from the Wonnangatta’, is now on the site. It involves reflections from a week picking walnuts on the Wonnangatta River near Dargo.

Check here for a profile and the first story.

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missing walker found

a view from Mt Skene - in much warmer weather!

A walker has been found near Mt Skene in the Victorian Alps after an overnight search.

The man, 30, was walking from Walhalla to Canberra on the Alpine Walking Track (AWT) when he activated his emergency position-indicating radio beacon on thursday May 12. He was found the next morning, appears to be in good health, and is walking out with police and the search and rescue team.

A police spokeswoman said crews had been searching Mt Skene for the Alphington man on the east side of the Jamieson Licola Rd. There had been substantial snow falls across the Alps over the last few days and conditions have been below zero.
It is understood from media reports that the man was taking six weeks to do the AWT from Walhalla to Canberra.

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Alphutte – alpine vandals

As a sub division within a snow gum woodland, developers at Dinner Plain, near Mt Hotham in the Victorian Alps, have done a good job of keeping as many mature trees as possible, whilst building houses and businesses quite densely. The ‘green’ aspect within the village is aided by the small bushland reserves that break up the housing.

Alphutte at Dinner Plain: bare earth where native veg existed. Introduced tree in background.

Guidelines require people to use indigenous species where they are putting in plants (Council guidelines say ‘only indigenous plant material can be used at Dinner Plain’), and lack of fencing has meant that small pockets of remnant understory also exist between houses. This enhances the feeling of still being in a forest.

However, Dinner Plain could be a very different place in coming years.

There is a disturbing ‘suburban creep’ that is evident, with a reasonable number of land owners now opting to destroy their remnant ground storey species and replace them with lawns.

In one obvious example of this, the people who run the Alphutte pizza restaurant recently completely removed all the remaining remnant understorey at the back of their block.

In spite of the fact that local indigenous species are meant to be planted at DP, Alphutte flout this law and have a large conifer growing as well.

While this was just a small patch of shrubs and flowers, if everyone at Dinner Plain destroyed their remnant vegetation and replaced it with lawn, and planted exotic (and potentially invasive) species on their land, the place would look profoundly different. There would also be substantial loss of biodiversity within the village itself. Dinner Plain is a small enclave of private housing within the Alpine National park, and weed invasion into the park is an obvious and, sadly, growing problem.

Often, these people retain most of the older snow gums on their properties yet don’t seem to understand (or care) that mature trees have to come from seedlings, meaning young trees must be put in to allow them to replace older trees when they do eventually die. The ‘clear the scrub and plant grass’ mentality and absence of new trees being planted will see a profoundly different village in coming years.

If poor environmental management upsets you, you may want to avoid Alphutte the next time you’re in Dinner Plain.

You might want to support Mountain Kitchen, which stocks local indigenous plant species.

Thankfully, the majority of people do seem to appreciate the remarkable landscape they are staying or living in, and do the right thing at Dinner Plain, by protecting or even replacing indigenous species.

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