IT DIDN’T take long for the first signs of regeneration to appear, however many of the scars from last year’s fire in the Grampians National Park remain.
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Work to restore vital infrastructure and access to some of the parks famed natural attractions has been ferocious and is ongoing.
“It is terrific to now have Zumsteins, McKenzie Falls, Mount Zero, Boroka Lookout and Read Lookout all reopened,"
- District Manager at Parks Victoria, Graham Parkes
In the wake of the blaze, ten walking tracks in the Grampians National Park were closed, including all of the walks to McKenzie Falls.
The Ngamadjidj and Gulgurn Manja Art Shelter’s, the Stapylton Campground, Smiths Mill Campground and picnic ground, Golton Gorge picnic ground, Troopers Creek Campground, and all bush camps in the Northern area were all closed.
“The Northern Grampians fire had a massive impact on the Grampians National Park and surrounding communities,” Graham Parkes, District Manager at Parks Victoria said.
“Mckenzie Falls, Mount Stapleton Campground, Smiths Mills Campground and the Mount Difficult walking track network received the biggest impacts as a result of the fire.”
Mr Parkes said Parks Victoria has progressively reopened access to and through the National Park and repaired important infrastructure such as signage.
“Parks Victoria has worked hard over the last year to get key sites reopened and visitors back into the Grampians,” he said.
“It is terrific to now have Zumsteins, McKenzie Falls, Mount Zero, Boroka Lookout and Read Lookout all reopened.
“An important partnership with licensed tour operators has allowed access back into Summerday Valley, one of the Grampians most popular rock climbing sites.
“All our energy is now going into reopening Mount Stapleton and Smith Mills Campgrounds and the Mount Difficult Walking track network, the aim is to restore assets to a better condition than they were in prior to the fire.”
Aside from the obvious destruction to the flora and fauna that is apparent after a bushfire, secondary impacts such as land degradation, soil erosion and contamination are significant issues have been witnessed and addressed.
Mr Parkes said one of the major environmental considerations during the fire recovery program has been to manage the germination and spread of one of the Grampians National Park’s biggest weed problems - Sallow wattle.
“Parks Victoria has been working with Laharum Landcare Group, Conservation Volunteers Australia and Project Platypus to develop programs to contain the spread of the weed,” he said.
It wasn’t just the natural features of the Grampians National Park that felt the affects of the fire, historical and cultural elements were also lost.
“The fire led to the loss of some aboriginal heritage such as scar trees, but has also provided us the opportunity to investigate cultural sites while the vegetation is open,” Mr Parkes said.
“Dry conditions since the fire has slowed the progress of regeneration and we would like to see improved winter and spring rains this year to ensure the native vegetation receives the boost it needs.”
Mr Parkes said last year’s Northern Grampians fire ranks alongside the 2006 Mount Lubra bushfire as one of the worst the Grampians has seen.
“We probably witnessed the biggest bushfire in the Grampians in 2006, but both the 2013 Victoria Valley and 2014 Northern Grampians fires were almost as great in their impact,” he said.
“The fire suppression effort was a massive job and a credit to the fantastic teamwork of all of the emergency services agencies.”
As for the rest of the present Fire Danger Period, Mr Parkes said more rainfall, similar to that experienced in Stawell this week would be needed to fend off any further outbreaks of fire this summer.
“Recent rain has eased fi re conditions but more significant rains are needed to reduce the fire danger,” he said.