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Stirling Alpine Link

A vision to link Mt Stirling with the

t Stirling is a unique natural landscape with dramatic vistas Mof ’s alpine area. Adjacent to Mt Buller it is popular with cross-country skiers, bushwalkers, campers and school groups, it is also home to many threatened plant and animal species. The Victorian National Parks Association has launched a push for the Mt Stirling area to be managed as a national park by linking it to the Alpine National Park and handing its management to Parks Victoria. It can then be managed as an integral part of Victoria’s largest national park, improving ecological management, recreation experiences and the overall integrity of our alpine region.

INSIDE

• Connecting Mt Stirling to the • Waterways ...... 3 Alpine National Park ...... 2 • Logging activity ...... 3 •Home for threatened species ...... 2 • What you can do ...... 4 A cross-country skier admires the view from the top of Howqua Gap Track. Connecting Mt Stirling to the Alpine National Park bout 2500ha of spectacular alpine country around Mt Stirling (1749m) is currently managed Aby the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board. Over the years, the natural values of Mt Stirling and surrounding state forest have been damaged by logging, fires, cattle grazing and recreational vehicles, and threatened by proposals for inappropriate commercial developments, such as ski lifts in the 1990s. Mt Stirling has never fitted the economic model of an Alpine Resort. A 2008 review of Alpine Resort areas by the State Services Authority (SSA), the body Skiers congregrate around the Stirling Mountain Centre in a photo taken in 1995. Skiable responsible for reviewing the functionality snow in this area is becoming increasingly rare as global warming bites. of state government departments, recognised this, recommending of and Mt Stirling by Parks limited options for commercial activities de-coupling management of Mt Stirling Victoria from 2010”. The VNPA seeks in accordance with the Assessment and from Mt Buller and managing Mt Stirling additional funding for Parks Victoria so Panel Report on the Environment Effects for its natural values. that it can manage these mountains with Statement, February 1997.” According to the review, Mt Stirling is the care they deserve. In addition, Mt Stirling is currently “more akin to a national park and should The VNPA agrees with the vision for be positioned and managed as such”, and separated from the Alpine National Park by Mt Stirling as stated within the Victorian an area of around 10,000ha of state forest. only “the Parks Victoria management Planning Scheme that “Mt Stirling Alpine option offers any practical improvement Resort is an all season nature based The VNPA proposes that the best way over the status quo”. tourist, recreational and educational of protecting the whole area would be by The SSA recommended that “the resource. Mt Stirling is not an option including a suitable section of state forest Minister for Environment and Climate for downhill skiing. Mt Stirling offers a within Mt Stirling in a seamless extension Change … provide for the management unique nature based experience with to the Alpine National Park.

2 – The Stirling Alpine Link State Forest Alpine National Park

State Forest

Merrijig Mt Buller Rd

Mt Stirling State Alpine Resort King Forest River

Stirling Alpine Link Mt Buller The Stirling Alpine Link, marked on the map by the Alpine Village orange borders, is a proposed extension to the Alpine National Park, and includes the Mt Stirling Alpine Resort, plus sufficient area of state forest to permit ecological, , educational, and recreational continuity with the Alpine National Park.

Special features of the Stirling Alpine Link The valley floors and mountain sides of the and Barred Galaxias. Huts in the state forest components: Stirling Alpine Link are home to many forest At least 22 • Craigs Hut. types, including drier montane woodlands, threatened fauna • Mount No 3 Refuge Hut. moister Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegat- species occur in • Razorback Hut. ensis) forests, and Snow Gum woodlands other North East There is no urban development or skiing (Eucalyptus pauciflora) above 1400m. forest areas with infrastructure other than snow poles. Higher up, above the 1650m mark, the similar habitats, Spotted Tree Frog landscape changes dramatically, and is and the Atlas of Logging activity covered in grasslands and shrubs. Australian Birds records more than 180 There are several scheduled logging coupes There is also a variety of grassland, species of birds in the region. within the Stirling Alpine Link. Some have herbfield and shrub habitats, with and been harvested and others are fire affected, without trees, below 1650m. Waterways making them less suitable for logging. Twelve vegetation types are represented There are eight designated creeks and within the boundaries of the proposed smaller tributaries, and three significant Current protection Stirling Alpine Link, including some small rivers – the King, and two designated Some 2573 hectares of state forest has areas of depleted, rare or vulnerable Heritage Rivers, the Howqua and Delatite – been designated as Special Protection vegetation types (total 60ha). found in the Stirling Alpine Link area. and other dedicated management zones, The largest “Ecological Vegetation protecting values such as old-growth Classes” are Herb-rich Foothill Forest, Current infrastructure forests for a number of vegetation types, Montane Damp Forest, Montane Dry Many kilometres of walking trails, Spotted Tree Frog and Sooty Owl habitat, Woodland and Sub-alpine Woodland. 4WD tracks and cross-country ski trails riparian forest and Craigs Hut (famous already exist within the Stirling Alpine Link, movie prop from the filmThe Man from Home for threatened species as well as four historic huts, toilets and Snowy River). A number of areas of state significance and picnic areas. The area of the Mt Stirling ‘resort’ is higher regional significance are also found Huts within the Mt Stirling Alpine Resort: about 2579ha, and of state forest within the Mt Stirling Alpine Resort area. • Howqua Gap Huts. 10,796ha. State and nationally significant species • Bluff Spur Memorial Hut. The total extension to the proposed include the Sooty Owl, Spotted Tree Frog • GGS Hut. Alpine National Park would be 13,374ha.

The Stirling Alpine Link — 3 The Stirling Alpine Link: A better future for the Victorian Alps

he declaration of the Stirling Alpine TELL DECISION-MAKERS and your Link will create seamless ecological elected state politician you want Tconnectivity between Mt Stirling Mt Stirling connected to the Alpine and the Alpine National Park, enhancing National Park. natural values, helping with management Use the information in this brochure and increasing the ecological resilience of and write a letter or send an email to both Mt Stirling and the national park, all the Premier of Victoria AND your local of which will ensure a better future for the politician. Go toyourmps.vnpa.org.au for Victorian alps. tips on how to find your electorate and local state politician. What needs to be done? The VNPA is calling on the Victorian Get active for nature! Government to: Join the VNPA as a member or sign up • Convert the Mt Stirling Alpine Resort your friends! into a national park, giving it the level of Membership brings many benefits protection it deserves. including access to our great bushwalking • Join Mt Stirling to the Alpine National and activities program, our quarterly Park by adding the adjacent area of state colour magazine Park Watch and regular forest to the national park. ebulletins. You will also be supporting our nature conservation work and the What you can do to help protection of Mt Stirling. SPREAD THE WORD, ask two friends to Subscribe to our free ebulletin,Nature’s read this brochure. Voice, by emailing [email protected] or visit www.vnpa.org.au. Wildflowers in bloom at Mt Stirling.

• Web: www.vnpa.org.au. • Phone: 03 9347 5188 twitter.com/vnpatweets • Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053 facebook.vnpa.org.au