Sections of major walking and cycling trails across the central goldfields have been closed or disrupted following bushfire damage on Mount Alexander and a scheduled logging operation in the Creswick State Forest.
HVP Plantations has begun a thinning harvest in the Creswick pine plantation, with operations scheduled to run for three to four weeks from Monday 9 February. The work is taking place near The Freeway Circuit and East–West Road, with roads around the operation closed for safety.
Large machinery and tree harvesting will occur close to the road edge, and trucks will be loaded directly from the roadway. Residents have been warned to take care on plantation roads, particularly at intersections and truck access points on Brackenbury Road and Water Street. A haulage curfew of 6.30am to 6pm has been introduced for the Water Street area.
During the operation, sections of the Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails) mountain bike network will be closed. A detour will also be in place on part of the Goldfields Track’s Wallaby Track, redirecting walkers along Jackass Road.
HVP Plantations says contractors have been instructed to minimise impacts on local residents as much as practical during the Creswick operation. Enquiries can be directed to the company’s Ballarat office.
Meanwhile, bushfire damage on Mount Alexander (Leanganook) has forced the closure of the Mt Alexander Regional Park including part of the Goldfields Walking Track between Mcquillans Rd and Sutton Grange Road. However, fire crews were able to protect assets in the Leanganook camping area although the area remains closed. DEECA crews are still clearing fallen trees from roads through the Park and it may be some weeks before a clear picture of the damage to the Goldfields Track is known. According to Great Dividing Trail Association sources, as many as 130 trail marker posts and information signs may have been affected.
The Goldfields Cycling Track on the western side of the mountain is also not recommended due to the risk of falling limbs and fire-damaged trees.
The January fires caused significant damage across the Harcourt area. The La Larr Ba Gauwa Mountain Bike Park near Harcourt was severely affected by the Mt Alexander fire. The entire La Larr Ba Gauwa Park is closed until further notice for safety assessments and trail remediation.
The fires are also expected to disrupt trail-based tourism in the region and may affect planning for future projects, including sections of the proposed Castlemaine–Maryborough Rail Trail.
And a fire earlier this week about 6km west of Blackwood has resulted in closure of the whole of Lerderderg State Park. Although the Lerderderg Track has not been directly affected, the Track is closed between Blackwood and Mackenzies Flat in Bacchus Marsh until the Park is reopened. The fire is listed as contained and the Parkis expected to reopen soon.
Authorities are urging walkers, cyclists and local residents to observe all closures, detours and safety signage while the fire recovery and logging works are underway.
