Community unites to rebuild gorge

Volunteers and Parks Victoria staff will build a new walking track at popular Grampians location Golton Gorge.

Golton Gorge track and picnic area, which includes waterfalls, are nestled in the national park between Halls Gap and Horsham.

In 2014 a northern Grampians fire burnt through the area.

Work on the new track will start on Friday.

The project has approval under Northern Grampians Shire Council’s cultural heritage management plan to undertake extensive work to re-establish the area.

Parks Victoria ranger-in-charge of Grampians National Park David Roberts said the community was the driving force behind rebuilding the area.

“We got some really strong feedback from the community that Golton Gorge was really important for local recreation,” he said.

“Not so much for visitors to the region, more for the local people of Stawell and Horsham.

“We are working closely with Grampians Walking Track Support Group to build the track, which will create local ownership over that particular experience.”

Mr Roberts said it was a really good partnership.

“The community is keen and invested in the project – if they had shown no interest in the redevelopment it would not have got to where it is today,” he said.

Grampians Walking Track Support Group co-ordinator David Witham said fire had badly damaged the area.

“The whole area was badly burnt, the bridge was burnt,” he said.

“After the fires Parks Victoria decided to close the picnic area.”

“We got some really strong feedback from the community that Golton Gorge was really important for local recreation” – David Roberts

Mr Witham said he was excited the project had won approval.

“People will have the chance to come out on three rock platforms at different levels to view the waterfalls,” he said.

“There has been four years of regrowth and there is a lot of bush there now. We will need to dig out a track and put in some steps.”

Mr Witham established Grampians Walking Track Support Group in 2003. The group organises volunteers for working bees on the park’s tracks.

Volunteers are usually from different walking groups, but anyone can volunteer.

“We mainly trim back vegetation, clear out drains and perhaps build the odd step,” Mr Witham said. “We have had two or three working bees already this year and we have a few coming up in June.

“Everything keeps growing, vegetation gradually comes back.”

Mr Witham and Mr Roberts were both enthusiastic about work starting in the area.

“The first working bee will involve Parks Victoria staff and the volunteer group,” Mr Roberts said.

“This will provide a good workforce to start that process and get work going.”

Mr Witham said the new track would go all the way to the falls.

“When there is water in them they are very impressive,” he said.