Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

Chockstone Photography

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Gramps Fire Recovery First Steps 20-Mar-2006 At 7:03:44 PM Access Ant

Message

Hi all
Below is an extract from my Argus Report that will hopefully explain why a working bee is taking place at Summerday Valley before some of the more adversly affected areas of the Grampians. It is simply the first of many steps in what will be a long process.
Cheers
Ant Callaghan
Access Officer VCC

Grampians Fire Recovery
I have organised a working Bee in conjunction with Parks for the 1st & 2nd of April to take place at Summerday Valley. Now you may well ask what the hell are we doing a working be up there for when it has been unaffected by the fires. Well there are a couple of reasons:
1. Unfortunately we are still unable to access many of the areas affect by the fires as the access trails to these fire affected spots have not yet been assessed, repaired and opened.
2. There is a real concern that due to many climbing areas in the Southern Grampians being inaccessible that there will be an increase in climbers visiting Summerday Valley for their climbing fix and thus will have an increased impact on the area
3. It will allow us to work with Parks prior to dealing with the more adversely affected areas and hopefully iron out any kinks that might arise. This will also (hopefully) establish a strong working relationship between the VCC, volunteers and Parks so that future issues can be dealt with in a reasonable manner as opposed to a knee jerk reaction (as has occurred in other Parks).
4. The environment works previously undertaken in Summerday Valley have been in need of some maintenance for some time.
I have been in contact with the volunteer co-ordinator for the Grampians fire recovery at Grampians National Parks services and he is able to supply any of the equipment required. I am in charge of organising as many volunteers as possible for the actual day. Anyone willing to help should contact me through the VCC website; www.vicclimb.org.au or alternatively on 0425 752 289 and leave a message.

The main areas of concern for me, and hopefully the rest of the climbing community, are Mt Rosea, Bundaleer and the Assess Ears. The priority is also in that order, not because I consider any of these areas to be more important than the others but for logistical reasons that will most likely be the order in which we can access the crags. Once Silverband Rd is opened we will be able to access Rosea, after which hopefully fire recovery work will take place on Stony Creek Rd that in turn will provide access to Bundaleer. Some of the smaller crags will unfortunately have wait. However, locally based commercial operators will see some of the crags close to Halls Gap so that they can get back to work. Areas such as the Sundial and the Watchtower I would imagine being the priorities for them. As these areas provide limited scope for climbers (numbers of climbs and inability to deal with a larger number of climbers at once) I am more concern with the more recreationally (and historically)
significant areas listed above. That’s not to say that I not interested in helping in these others areas, I just see the need to get things moving. Anyone interested in helping in any way at any areas should contact me and I can forward them on to the appropriate persons.
Thanks
Ant Callaghan
Access & Environment Officer VCC