Parks Victoria

July 2016

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Winter at Mount Buffalo National Park - July 2016
 
 
 
Welcome to Parks Victoria’s regular newsletter, providing visitors and interested local community members with an update on activities and our ongoing work to improve Mount Buffalo National Park.

Winter has arrived and Victoria’s snow season is well underway. Visitors have the choice of two managed toboggan and snow play areas on the mountain at Dingo Dell and Cresta Valley. Cresta Valley also has three groomed cross country ski trails as well as a large untracked and unmarked area for the more adventurous and well prepared skier. For current conditions visit www.ski.com.au or sign up to our daily snow report by emailing Michelle Doherty, Ranger Team Leader Mount Buffalo National Park at michelle.doherty@parks.vic.gov.au

If you are keen to hone your skills with a ski instructor or want to stomp across the snow in a set of snow shoes, there are licensed tour operators who can help you. Enquire at the local Visitor Information Centres or on the mountain at Dingo Dell.

For those of you who enjoy staying more firmly on the ground, Parks Victoria is introducing two new marked walking routes this winter at Dingo Dell and Cresta. These walking routes are in addition to the park’s many established tracks which are more suitable for experienced walkers prepared for the range of weather conditions that winter can bring. The temptation to go for a stroll along a snowy track is almost irresistible, but we ask you to stay off the groomed and marked cross country ski trails to protect the snow cover and to help prevent injury to skiers.

If you’re not a snow-lover, or the snow conditions are not what we would like them to be, there are always loads of things to see and do at Mount Buffalo National Park with 23 walking trails to explore, a choice of picnic areas to soak up the fresh alpine air of Victoria’s High Country, and without a doubt, this is the best time of year to enjoy nature’s show of magnificent sunrises and sunsets! And with high rainfall and snow melt, the waterfalls at Mt Buffalo are sure to delight.

 
 
 
 
Mount Buffalo Chalet external maintenance works underway

Mount Buffalo National Park is also home to the heritage-listed Mount Buffalo Chalet which is currently undergoing substantial external maintenance works to restore the façade of the building and the gardens to their former glory. This is the most significant restoration work at the Chalet since it was closed in 2007. The works aim to stop deterioration of the historic timber building that was built over 100 years ago and give the building a safe foundation. There is no demolition as part of these works.

The contract for the primary maintenance works has been awarded to Browns Wangaratta, within the overall commitment from Victorian Government of $2.8 million. Over the next 12 months, Parks Victoria will be working closely with Dennis Brackas, Browns’ construction manager and Wangaratta-based heritage architect Deborah Kemp to ensure the restoration work is in keeping with heritage values of the Chalet and the surrounding gardens.

Workers have been on site and erected scaffolding around the Chalet as well as installing a security fence to secure the site. Work is currently on hold while the snow falls and will resume when the weather improves.

The team of skilled tradespeople from Browns will restump the north end of the building where significant movement has occurred, replace rotten weatherboards and timber window frames on the front and side facades as well as insulate the building.

Careful consideration is being given to using the correct weatherboard profiles and timber to meet heritage conditions and make the restoration work as seamless as possible with the original weatherboards that don’t require replacing. Some window frames will be removed and restored by a specialist cabinet maker in Wangaratta. Loose stonework at the base of the building will also be reset and the ageing water supply line from Crystal Brook to the Chalet will be replaced after winter.

Julien Atherstone, Parks Victoria’s Ovens Area Chief Ranger said that after months of planning, he was delighted the work has commenced: “It is a big job being responsible for the care of such a wonderful historic building – it is great to see this essential external maintenance underway.”

 
 
 
 
 
Did you know?

Mount Buffalo National Park is one of the most known and visited destinations in Victoria’s High Country and the Alpine Shire, and is a key visitor attraction for the north-east region.

The park attracts around 181,000 visitors annually amounting to 32 per cent of the Alpine Shire visitors, highlighting the substantial economic contribution Mount Buffalo provides to the local economy.

Parks Victoria is developing a Visitor Experience Plan, “Strategic Directions for Mount Buffalo National Park”, that will outline opportunities to be progressed over the next ten to fifteen years. Mount Buffalo already provides an outstanding all seasons nature-based visitor experience and the Plan will look at how this can be enhanced through recreation, tourism and commercial opportunities to attract greater visitation and community participation.

Parks Victoria is working closely with the Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group (details below) to prepare the Plan.

 
 
 
 
 
What about the paint colour?

This is a question that many locals, visitors and interested community members have been asking. The new weatherboards and trims will be carefully matched to the existing colour scheme.

The artists’ impression to the left shows what the Chalet will look like when the works are completed before next winter. As many of you will recall, the Chalet has had various colour schemes over the years and in consultation with Heritage Victoria, Parks Victoria decided the best result would be achieved by retaining the existing colour scheme.

 
 
 
Changed traffic conditions accessing Mount Buffalo National Park

Over the next 12 months, there may be times when there is an increase in heavy vehicle traffic on the drive up the mountain on the tight, winding Mount Buffalo Road that leads to the Gorge Day Visitor Area and the Chalet. Please allow extra time and be patient as there are very few safe overtaking opportunities. Enjoy the magnificent scenery on the way!

 
 
 
 
The Gorge Day Visitor Area Upgrades

The Chalet isn’t the only section of the park to get some TLC. Parks Victoria has been working on a number of other upgrades including the stabilisation and restoration of the old stables at the back of the Chalet with the help of Greg Owen and his team from Period Building Conservation, Beechworth as well as improving the visitor facilities at Lake Catani Campground and the Lakeside Day Visitor Area.

Parks Victoria has been working with the Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group to define scope of works and ensure this popular site is upgraded to provide the best possible visitor experience for years to come. A total of $1.5 million has been allocated for this project.

Upgrading the visitor experience in the Gorge Day Visitor Area could include improving car and coach parking, upgrading the existing toilet facility, improving signage and seating as well as providing a food and beverage service.

 
 
 
 
Lake Catani Campground and Lakeside Upgrades

The Lakeside Day Visitor Area is located on the lake shore adjacent to the Lake Catani Campground and provides the perfect location to enjoy a cool swim or paddle a canoe. Parks Victoria completed upgrade works to the site prior to the summer camping season and by all accounts, the result was happy campers! The improvements to the toilet and shower block included the installation of a new floor and improved sky lights to make the facilities more comfortable and enjoyable to use. However, the improved drainage on each of the campsites didn’t get thoroughly road-tested by this year’s campers because of the exceptionally dry season.

Works to upgrade the Lakeside toilet block to transform the facility from a dark toilet and shower block to a light picnic shelter are on track, and the work will be completed after the winter months and will be Mount Buffalo’s first undercover picnic area with free gas BBQs.

 
 
 
 
Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group up and running

The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group is comprised of representatives from the Alpine Shire Council; Tourism North East; Community Action for the Chalet, a community group established to help preserve the Chalet; a local heritage architect and tourism operator; and senior representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria.

The group is working collaboratively with Parks Victoria to provide strategic advice about the future of Mount Buffalo National Park, including the Chalet, to Parks Victoria’s Chief Executive, Bradley Fauteux and ensure the best possible visitor experience on the mountain for years to come.

Mr Fauteux said the future of the park requires thoughtful consultation and planning with the local community. Parks Victoria is looking holistically at the visitor experience at the park through a number of initiatives, what drives people here, and how we can increase visitation.

“The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group play an important role in assisting Parks Victoria to develop Mount Buffalo as a complete and unique tourism destination, of which the Chalet is naturally a part,” Mr Fauteux said.

Opportunities for the community to work with the Advisory Group and Parks Victoria to determine the longer-term destination priorities for Mount Buffalo National Park are being planned. Up-to-date information on the visitor improvement projects underway at Mount Buffalo National Park will be available shortly on www.parks.vic.gov.au/mountbuffaloprojects

The Mount Buffalo Destination Advisory Group members are:
• Mayor Ron Janas, Alpine Shire Council
• David Jacobson, Chair, Community Action for the Chalet (CAC)
• Amber Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism North East
• Janelle Boynton, Local heritage building specialist
• Clare Kiely, Regional Director, DELWP
• Ty Caling, Acting Regional Director, Parks Victoria.

Amber Gardner, spokesperson for the Advisory Group, said that while a number of committees have considered the future of the Chalet, it has largely occurred independently from the broader destination offering.

"The new Advisory Group is looking to address this issue by reviewing the future of Mount Buffalo as a complete and unique tourism destination, of which the Chalet is naturally a part. It is envisaged this holistic approach will deliver more sustainable tourism outcomes for Mount Buffalo," Ms Gardner said.

 
 
 
 
 
Want to find out more?

If you would like further information about any of the projects underway at Mount Buffalo National Park, please contact Julien Atherstone, Ovens Area Chief Ranger on 13 1963.