Boost for Bunyip park

By Tania Martin
TOURISTS will soon find it easier to access Gembrook’s iconic Bunyip State Park thanks to a $365,000 State Government cash splash.
Environment Minister Gavin Jennings announced the cash on Monday 26 October as part of a State Government community cabinet tour of the region.
Mr Jennings said the funding would go towards improving visitor access to the park.
“We are improving our parks and reserves because we understand they are important to people in the community,” he said. “The February fires burnt 46 per cent of Bunyip State Park … this program will include road maintenance to upgrade 35 kilometres of four-wheel-drive tracks in the park.”
Mr Jennings said the cash would go towards improving visitor safety through a range of initiatives such as tree trimming, extra signage and upgraded gates and fences.
“These works shows we (the state government) are taking action to deliver lasting benefits across the park, which will enhance the experience of visitors to one of our state’s most beautiful forests,” he said.“We recognise the importance of Victoria’s world-class system of parks, which protect our unique environment, provide recreational opportunities for Victorians and visitors and create economic activity and jobs in regional areas across the state.”
Bunyip State Park ranger in charge Greg Young said the cash was great news for the park, four-wheel drivers and trail bike riders. The park was used by a big network of four-wheel drivers from Melbourne’s east.
“We are happy that by putting rubble on the some of the steeper sections will make the tracks more sustainable especially over the winter period,” Mr Young said.
He said vehicles were now being fitted with bigger tyres and more powerful engines, which had a big impact on the track surface.
“We need to engineer the steeper tracks to be able to withstand that sort of punishment,” he said.
Mr Young said motorist also often got stuck in bog holes during winter.
“We can use this money to address those areas of degradation,” he said. “But at the same time we don’t want to reduce the degree of difficulty of the tracks.”
But Mr Young said Park Victoria still had to maintain the environment.
“We are also responsible for protecting the environment and we need to find a balance to provide for the recreational vehicle use,” he said.
After the announcement Mr Jennings took time to talk to local businesses affected by the Black Saturday fires.