WORKS on the highly-anticipated Grampians Peaks Trail are ramping up, with the project due to be completed by December this year.
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Once finished, the 160 kilometre trail will include 12 campsites and be accessible for day walks, overnight sections, or as one 13-day journey.
Latest works have included flying building materials in by helicopter to some of the most inaccessible parts of the park.
The first stage of the $30.3 million project, in the central area, opened to the public in 2015. Construction is well-underway in the northern and southern Grampians.
By 2025, up to 34,000 walkers are expected to tackle the trail.
Stage one of the project provided the new Bugiga hiker camp and 16 kilometres of new trails in the central Grampians, near Halls Gap.
Stage two will provide another 11 camps and 144 kilometres of trails.
Parks Victoria documents say each of the new hiker camps has been designed to sit discreetly in the environment.
The camps comprise of a main shelter for gathering and meal preparation, a separate toilet building, up to 12 tent pads, boardwalks, and internal tracks positioned to minimise environmental impact.
Ten of the camps are to be available for general use and one camp is intended for groups, particularly schools.
Some of the camps are in remote locations and only accessible by walking, while others have road access for four-wheel drive management vehicles.
Track clearing and construction is progressing on schedule with crews working in various locations.
The current focus of works is in the south, near Dunkeld and Mt Abrupt.
Hiker camp construction began in November 2019, with Cassidy Gap, Mt Christabel, Stockyard Saddle and the updated Stony Creek Group camp currently underway.
During the construction of Stony Creek camp, visiting groups are being directed to a nearby bush camp that is suitable for larger numbers.
Following construction of the camp facilities, further infrastructure will be installed including signage and other associated items before tracks will be reopened to the public.
Some existing tracks will need to be closed throughout 2020 as hiker camp construction progresses, says Parks Victoria.
There are trail closure signs installed at all access points and all park users are requested to comply with closures.
The project has received $20.2 million from the state government and $10 million from the federal government through Horsham council.
Interim protection order for Mount Arapiles site
Nearby, an interim protection declaration has been made for an Aboriginal site in Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park in the state's north-west, following the discovery of culturally significant rock art.
The move aims to ensure the area is protected while Traditional Owners and land managers consider longer-term protection strategies for the site.
It comes after mining giant Rio Tinto's recent blowing up of two 46,000-year-old landmarks in Western Australia that were recognised as one of Australia's oldest known Aboriginal heritage sites.
Dyurrite 1 is a small rock shelter that is part of Taylors Rock or Declaration Crag, located to the south of Mount Arapiles, where more than 50 Aboriginal rock art motifs - undetectable to the naked eye - have recently been identified.
The site which is popular with rock climbers, also includes a stone artefact scatter and a stone quarry.
While the area was immediately closed to park users in December, the interim declaration allows for significant fines if the area is disturbed. It will be subject to review in three months' time and can be extended for a further three months.
The site has already been added to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register.
The Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation represent Traditional Owners in this part of the state, including Arapiles, and will work in partnership with the Victorian Government on a long-term protection strategy.
The declaration is the first interim protection declaration made under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.
Two permanent protection declarations were made for the Garradha Molwa in December 2011 and the Point Ritchie Moyjil Midden Complex in August 2013.
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