September 2014 Issue 250 Walking and Talking with the Bushwalking Victoria President BTAC Committee and Field Officer Vacancies Adopting a Track BTAC Track and Conservation Activities Alpine Bogs Recovery Plan - Public Consultation Bushwalking Environment and Conservation Reports Federation Walks Weekend, 2014 Changes to Camping Fees and Booking System Changes to Peak Season Ballot System New Camping Fees - A Reaction Club Anniversaries - Grampians Bushwalking Club, 20 Years Spring Into Nature - Media Release Advertisement - SV Maps Contributions Who's Who at Bushwalking Victoria Walking and Talking with the Bushwalking Victoria President Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation (BTAC) Over the past 10 months, BTAC has settled into the expanded role inherited from its predecessor, the Bushwalking Environment Committee (BEC). The entire suite of policies relating to conservation and bushwalking amenities has been reviewed, updated and published as four policy documents on the Bushwalking Victoria website: Read More top BTAC Committee and Field Officer Vacancies Thank You David Miller for Your Contribution David Miller who has been on the BEC/BTAC committee for several years resigned due to time constraints and other commitments. In the last year he took on the responsibility of developing the Field Officers network on behalf of BTAC and being our Field Officer Liaison. He has also resigned from his role of Field Officer for the East Gippsland Region. For several years David has coordinated a four-day track clearing and maintenance project in the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) over the Australia Day long weekend. Unfortunately, in 2013 and 2014 these activities were cancelled due to bushfires, but if you have walked on the Buckwong Creek or the Mt Wills sections of the AAWT, then you should thank David for his efforts in recruiting teams to do work on this track. He built up a relationship with the rangers in Omeo and was recently working with the Ranger in Charge at Mt Beauty to plan ongoing work on the AAWT in the Bogong High Plains area. The BTAC committee members thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best for his planned trips and travels. Vacancy for Field Officer Liaison BTAC is now seeking for expressions of interest to fill the vacancy of Field Officer Liaison. Responsibilities: Call for monthly reports from the Field Officers Collate reports and forward to the BTAC Convener Liaise with Field Officers regarding their areas Recruit new Field Officers in gap areas. For more information or to express your interest in joining the BTAC committee, please contact Megan Major: Email [email protected] or mobile 0425 702 788. The committee of six usually meets every two months in Melbourne. Current committee members are: Convener - Megan Major Projects Coordinator - Charlie Ablitt Land Management Consultant Phil Brotchie Dave Rimmer – Track Development Field Officer Coordinator - (Vacant) Publications - Joslin Guest Vacancies for Field Officers Field Officers are appointed by the BTAC committee and are responsible for a designated geographic area. They liaise and network with local bushwalking clubs and land managers, and report monthly to BTAC. They are expected to be long-term appointees and not subject to changes at club committee level. They should be frequent visitors to their area and build strong relationships with the land managers. Responsibilities: Be responsible to BTAC and Bushwalking Victoria for a designated area Raise issues with the BTAC Committee as necessary Research and investigate issues and actions as requested by the BTAC Liaise and network with local clubs Build strong relationships with land managers Ensure BTAC Convener is kept fully briefed Present a report monthly for BTAC, particularly in response to requested actions Recommend possible courses of action on issues. The current Field Officers are: Ballarat and Central Victoria - John Petheram Grampians and Western Victoria - Phil Brotchie Otway Ranges - Bernard Jordan Central Gippsland - Michael Haynes Wilsons Promontory - Ian McKellar Mt Buffalo - Pauline McLaughlin Victorian Alps - Jim Harker Eastern Highlands - David Rimmer Dandenong Ranges - Bev Williams. Possible additional Field Officer areas: Alpine National Park north of Great Alpine Road Alpine National Park Omeo Region East Gippsland South Gippsland Mornington Peninsula Yarra Ranges Brisbane Ranges/Lerderderg Gorge Bendigo area Murray-Sunset National Park Desert Parks SW-Lower Glenelg National Park. To express interest in becoming a Field Officer for a specific area contact Megan Major: Email [email protected] or mobile 0425 702 788. Megan Major BTAC Convener top Adopting a Track Some clubs have already adopted a track or park. Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club - Bukkertillible Track at Mt Buangor State Park Benalla Bushwalking Club - Mt Samaria State Park Border Bushwalking Club - assisting in the upkeep of high country huts Boroondara Bushwalking Club - Cathedral Range State Park Diamond Valley Bushwalking Club - Sugarloaf Reserve Strzelecki Bushwalking Club - Baw Baw National Park West Gippsland Bushwalking Club - Bench Rest Track, Gembrook Warrnambool Bushwalking club - regularly helps maintain the local rail trail Bayside Bushwalking Club - is considering adopting the Freemans Mill Track, Bunyip State Park. If your club regularly does work in a particular area but is not included in the above list, please let Charlie Ablitt, Bushwalking Trakcs and Conservtion Projects Coordinator ([email protected]) know. If any club has a favourite track and wishes to help with its upkeep, please contact me so I can help liaise with Parks Victoria to see if we can arrange an ongoing association. Similarly, if a club would like to adopt a park/track but does not have a particular location in mind, please let me know and I will consult with Parks Victoria and inform them of the opportunities to build a relationship. Charles Ablitt Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation Projects Coordinator top BTAC Track and Conservation Activities Oct 12 - Sassafras Creek walking track The meeting time at Sassafras is 8.30 am where the track starts on the Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd. Melway 66 F9. Expect to start work at 9am. BYO morning tea, snacks and lunch. Tools and gloves will be provided. Easy jobs for all with some bending involved. Contact Charlie Ablitt at [email protected] for more information. Oct 26 - Condons Track, Healesville The meeting time is 8.30am at the Parks Victoria office at Healesville Reservoir. Melway 270 K10. Expect to start work at 9am. BYO morning tea, snacks and lunch. Tools, gloves and PPE will be provided. Easy jobs for all with some bending involved. Contact Charlie Ablitt at [email protected] for more information. Nov 1-4 (Melbourne Cup Weekend) - Barry Mountains area, Victorian Alps We will place track markers and clear the track from Barry's Saddle to Mt St Bernard. There will be a base camp. A 4WD club will transport workers to and from the work sites. A Parks Victoria ranger will be in attendance. Contact Charlie Ablitt at [email protected] for more information and to register your interest in joining this activity. Nov 29-30 - Upper Howqua This is a very enjoyable location. We will drive to and base camp at the upper Howqua River campsite, and clear overgrowth from the nearby track(s). A reasonable level of fitness is required as we will need to climb up the track. A Parks Victoria ranger will be in attendance. Contact Charlie Ablitt at [email protected] for more information and to register interest in joining the activity. Let Charlie know if you can operate a brush cutter or hedge trimmer or have a Chainsaw Licence or an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit. Please note: Your expression of interest does not necessarily mean that you will be invited to participate as sometimes we need to assemble a team with particular skills or there is a logistical limit to the number of participants. New willing hands will always be considered. In all instances we will keep you informed. Charlie Ablitt Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation Projects Coordinator top Alpine Bogs Recovery Plan - Public Consultation You are invited to comment on the draft national recovery plan for the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens ecological community which is listed as endangered under Australia's national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). The recovery plan has been developed with expertise and cooperation of independent experts and land managers responsible for conserving the ecological community. The plan has been developed using the most recent and emerging information on the ecological community and its threats. The plan sets out the management, research and other actions necessary to stop the decline and support the recovery of the ecological community so that the chance of its long-term persistence in nature is maximised. Details about the public consultation, including the document referred to above, are available at: www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery- comment.html. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) is seeking public comment on the draft plan (as required under the EPBC Act). Please note that comments on the plan are due by 3 December 2014. Your comments are invited as an integral part of the assessment process and are very much appreciated.