Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail

August 2009 State Forest of the Dinner Plain Area FS0102 DSE – Swifts Creek ISSN 1440-2262

State Forest of the Dinner Plain Area Significant flora and fauna State Forest surrounding the Dinner Plain The Dinner Plain area is dominated by Village is managed by the Department of Snow Gum Woodland and open Sub-Alpine Sustainability and Environment. The Alpine Grasslands. Heathlands occupy areas of National Park to the west is managed by poor drainage or exposed weather.

Parks Victoria. At lower elevations these communities are replaced with Montane Forest dominated by Situated 375 km (approximately 4.5 hours) Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis), a north-east of Melbourne, this area offers focus of timber harvesting. Threatened plant year-round recreational opportunities. communities such as Montane Grassy

Getting there Woodland are dominated by Snow Gum (E. pauciflora) and Mountain Gum (E. From Melbourne travel east on the Princes dalrympleana ssp. dalrympleana), with a Highway through Gippsland, then head grassy understorey. north on the Great Alpine Road through to Omeo and on to Dinner Plain. Alternatively, Significant flora occurs in this specialised travel via Mt Hotham. habitat including the Shining Anchor Plant (Discaria nitida) near Cobungra Station and European history an endemic eucalypt – Omeo Gum (E. European settlement in the area began with neglecta) that occurs locally. stock movement between Gippsland and north-east Victoria with Omeo being settled The majority of this area was burnt in the in 1835. Grazing interest was followed by 2003 Alpine Fires that totalled 1.1 million mining when gold was discovered in the hectares in Victoria. Flora has recovered many river valleys. well but weed invasion is a major threat. A significant population of the critically It is believed Dinner Plain was named by endangered Alpine Tree Frog (Litoria early cattle drovers who stopped for their verreauxii alpina) occurs in the woodlands, midday dinner at the grassy plains. heaths and bogs of the Dinner Plain area, including State forest. Aboriginal history The Alpine region of Victoria was used Similar to other frogs this species has extensively by Aboriginal people who have a suffered a dramatic decline in abundance comprehensive knowledge of the cultural and distribution over the last ten years. sites, oral history and ancestral stories that Formerly found throughout the highlands of relate to this area. eastern Victoria, the ACT and southern NSW the Alpine Tree Frog is now extinct in Throughout the year Aboriginal groups the alpine zone and restricted to lower would travel great distances from the coasts elevations. The two recorded State forest and outlying regions to meet with mountain localities of Alpine Tree Frog are on tribes for intertribal ceremonies. Cultural Horsehair Plain and Flour Bag Plain. objects and materials for tools would be exchanged during these gatherings. Significant populations of rare or threatened flora and fauna are protected for

State Forest of the Dinner Plain Area FS0102

conservation purposes by Special Forest Note ‘Camping in State Forest’ and Protection Zones in State Forest. the ‘Bush Camping Code’. Hunting is another key difference between Walking tracks the two land tenures. Hunting is permitted • Dinner Plain Alpine Village Trails within State Forest, in an appropriate way

Camp sites according to the rules set out for this activity. In National Park however, with a • Victoria Falls Historic Area few exceptions hunting of any type is • JB Plain generally not permitted at any time.

Picnic sites Events of a competitive nature and larger group activities in State Forest require a • Dinner Plain Village permit. Permits are not required for small- • Black Sallee Picnic Area scale, non-competitive, non-profit events • Victoria Falls Historic Area however a courtesy call to the local DSE office will benefit both the club and DSE. State Forests and National Parks Events and functions may be allowed in There are differences between the activities some National Parks and other Reserves permitted in State Forest and National Park. though they generally require a permit. Due to conservation objectives National When planning your activity, day / camping Parks generally have tighter restrictions on trip, or group event, contact the appropriate activities. land manager for advice. Mobile activities including: trail bike riding; Tread Lightly. Both State Forest and motorcycle riding; four-wheel driving are National Park land managers encourage restricted to formed roads and tracks in both visitors and users of the bush to “tread State Forest and National Parks. lightly”, to minimise our impact on the Both land tenures have some areas that natural environment. exclude mobile activites because they are The DSE Forest Recreation Notes series reference areas or conservation zones. provides information on minimal impact use Seasonally closed roads, which restrict and recreational activities in Victoria's vehicle traffic, should not be accessed for forests. See DSE contacts below. any activity. Further restrictions may apply in National For more information Park particularly if the activity imposes a For information regarding National Parks significant threat to conservation or the use and Reserves see: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au of these areas by other visitors. For Parks Victoria Hotline 13 1963 example, horse riding in National Park in The Department of Sustainability and alpine and subalpine environments is Environment (DSE) is responsible for permitted only between 1 December and 30 managing Victoria's State Forest. April inclusive; restrictions also apply to horse riding group size. For further information contact DSE’s Dogs are generally (with some small Customer Service Centre on 13 6186 exemptions) allowed in State forest, but (TTY: 1800 122 969) or visit DSE’s website should be under direct control at all times at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/forests and are expected to be kept on a leash in DSE Swifts Creek office (03) 5159 5100 picnic/camping areas or when near other visitors. National Parks are closed to dogs This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of and other pets. Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your Campers are welcome in most areas of particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any State Forest. In National Park some sites error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you are designated. Fees are more common to relying on any information in this publication. camp sites within National Park. Refer to the

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This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.