Replacement of Federation, Michell and McNamara’s Hut By the beginning of 2005, five of the destroyed huts – Federation, Michell, Mt Benambra Fire Tower, Bogong Aqueduct and McNamara’s Huts – had been replaced. (Replacing McNamara’s Hut was a special case as outlined below.) Some of the design guidelines for the reconstruction of Federation and Michell included: All rebuilt huts to be designed and built in sympathy with the natural environment. Building materials to be in keeping with the purpose of the hut and the setting, but not to be sourced from within the National Park. Site selection to be based upon indigenous community consultation, environmental assessment, fire protection and recreational needs. A local architectural firm was engaged to design the new huts and stakeholders were invited to contribute suggestions to the design. A builder was then awarded the contract for fabricating the two huts – a not inconsiderable challenge given the harsh nature of the terrain and the need for the huts to be prefabricated and flown in pieces by helicopter to the remote sites. It was decided that it would be impractical to replicate the old structures, with their hotchpotch of building styles and environmental inefficiency. The design for the new huts is both functional and robust, while still reflecting traditional values. The bushfire also provided an excellent opportunity to raise the standard of the huts in line with their primary purpose as refuges. Both huts now easily accommodate 15 people for emergency refuge and come equipped with a bench for food preparation and water tanks. They are constructed of Cyprus pine, which weathers well under exposure to the elements and is resistant to insect damage. Both huts were prefabricated in Stanley and then dismantled into 400 kg lots to be flown to their respective locations. Federation Hut The original Federation Hut was nestled on a narrow ridge just south-west of Mt Feathertop in the Alpine National Park. Being located above the snow line, the hut at this popular site was considered essential for replacement because of its significant refuge value. Helicopters flew in the materials for Federation Hut to the site in mid-December 2004, but weather conditions deteriorated and remained stormy throughout the entire construction phase. Builders and staff chose to remain and continue working whenever possible. Construction of Federation Hut was completed in 11 days, just before Christmas 2004. The Recovery Story - The 2003 Alpine Fires 19
English Broom English (Cytisus scoparius) was introduced to Australia around 1800 and it has become particularly virulent in parks, reserves and forests, invading natural bush environments with little or no competition. On private land, broom forms thickets that reduce grazing area and dense infestations provide cover for pest animals. The seeds can also be toxic if eaten by stock. Large tracts of the Bogong and Dartmouth Units of the Alpine National Park have been invaded by English Broom with considerable infestations also in State forests and on private property. Over the past decade, both Parks Victoria and DSE have put a lot of effort into English Broom control. The focus has been on controlling it in areas of high value, along watercourses, on 4WD tracks and sections of the Australian Alps Walking Track, and containing it on and around private property. The aim has been to halt the spread and eliminate new infestations. The area around Taylors Crossing was the target for DSE’s English Broom control effort. The majority of English Broom infestations in the Alpine National Park were burnt and many of the mature plants were killed. However, broom regenerates prolifically after fire from stores of seed in the soil, so it was important to reassess the control program and take advantage of the effects of the fires. The Department of Primary Industries’ Keith Turnbull Research Institute developed a post-fire plan to help guide future planning and management, which included mapping and recording infestation locations and using biological control agents and control measures where appropriate. A Strategic Action Plan for the period 2004-10 was developed and public awareness is being raised through signage, posters, leaflets and information days for regular park user groups. An Adaptive Experimental Management (AEM) approach has been established for key to measure the effectiveness of management strategies over time. Important new partnerships have been in the fight against English Broom, extending the already strong working collaboration between Parks Victoria, DSE and DPI, and the North East and East Gippsland Catchment Management Authorities. Goulburn-Murray Water and Mount Wills Mining, who have provided sponsorship funding for control projects, are also on board. The High Country Landcare Network, Friends of the Mitta Mitta and private landowners have been involved with control efforts. The Recovery Story - The 2003 Alpine Fires 37
Supporting tourism Parks Victoria quickly recognised how important it was to support regional tourism in the Alps and Gippsland, which obviously suffered decreased visitor numbers during and after the fires. Working with regional tourism organisations, Parks Victoria organised two workshops specifically for licensed tour operators to increase their knowledge of fire ecology and the role of fire in the environment. The intention was to their understanding and influence their future operations, so that they can pass knowledge and information on to their customers and clients. It also gave them an opportunity to mix with others that had been similarly affected. The first workshop was run quite soon after the fires in early May 2003 at Dinner Plain and the second was held at Falls Creek a year later to provide time for reflection and to observe the regeneration of the environment and the effects of the fire. Operators responded well to the workshops and have subsequently increased understanding. All the fire-affected operators were given information materials, including the ‘Fire in the Cycle of Life’ package. In conjunction with the Victorian Tour Operators Association (VTOA), licensed tour operators were offered the opportunity to carry out contracted works for Parks Victoria, mainly track assessments, as a way of supplementing their reduced business incomes. Tour operators attended workshops and were involved with bushfire recovery work, helping them to better understand the processes of fire and increasing their environmental awareness. This knowledge will be passed on to clients and customers enjoying recreational and tourism activities in the Alps. Parks Victoria also offered to fund tour operators to gain Ecotourism certification, although none actually completed this opportunity. A lot of goodwill, mutual understanding and support were between Parks Victoria and tour operators through these workshops and the efforts to support and involve them with bushfire recovery work. The workshops produced excellent discussions and were a good general networking opportunity for the industry, particularly to talk about and identify ways that operators could work together in the post-fire environment. The initiatives developed by Parks Victoria, in conjunction with the tourism industry, to support tourism operators post-fire were highlighted in a winning submission prepared specifically by Parks Victoria and Alpine Region Tourism in the destination marketing category at the 2004 Victorian Tourism Awards. The program also received a commendation at the National Tourism Awards for tourism-support program. .
Long-term help for farmers to rebuild – individual advisory services Beyond immediate help, such as fodder for and new fences, fire-affected farmers needed assistance to rebuild their farming enterprises and get back to where they were before the fires. The State Government identified a number of potential services that could help farmers recover and rebuild. A letter was sent to 600 fire-affected landholders offering one-to-one assistance with a range of services: whole-farm planning; or agronomic, financial enterprise and succession planning advice. Landholders were asked to nominate their preference for the type of service they wanted to receive. DPI selected relevant contractors after inviting expressions of interest from qualified and experienced consultants in the key areas. Advice on pasture re-establishment and fertiliser requirements More than 90 landholders nominated that they wanted agronomy advice and were visited individually by the contracted agronomists. An average of soil samples were taken for analysis and landholders received written reports outlining pasture options, including fertiliser and/or seed resowing rates and methods, and current and potential stocking rates. Many landholders now have pasture development plans, which they didn’t have before the fires. An evaluation form sent to landholders who took up various offers of assistance has provided positive feedback about the services offered and the outcomes of the assistance provided. Advice to develop or review whole farm plans Ninety landholders nominated whole farming planning as either their first or second choice. The purpose of this type of advice was to enhance long-term and short-term planning in a farming system context. The offer included a photograph of a farmer’s property and, because it was a complex process, it was decided to prepare all 90 property photos in the one step. The grid references of boundaries needed to be determined and base photographs located if they existed and new aerial photographs taken if they did not. The photos then needed rectification to allow them to be joined and accurately measured to provide orthophoto maps. Contractors are now developing whole farm plans that identify land capability and how land may be fenced into the same paddock to maximise productivity and sustainability. Few landholders had done whole-farm planning before the fires, so these plans will help them significantly with their future farming activities.