MARCH 14 – 19
This will be a chance to explore some great places in the Victorian high country while also supporting efforts to protect native forests from logging. FoE has been focusing on three key areas in the Alps: Mt Stirling, the Little Dargo, and Mt Wills, near the state’s highest mountain (details can be found in our report here). This trip will focus on the Mt Wills area and also visit the upper Mitta Mitta (Big) River.
How to join the trip:
Option 1/ Come on the trip. You can join the roadtrip for a day, or come along for the whole trip. Please note that participants will need to be self sufficient in terms of vehicles, camping gear and food (we are happy to help co-ordinate ride sharing for those who are keen).
We will need to put a limit of 20 on participants of the full trip in order to be able to fit into campsites and manage our impact (but there are no size limits on the three public events in Bright, on the Big River, or at Mt Wills). There is no fee for joining the trip but you will need to cover your own costs of food and travel.
Option 2/ join us at one of the 3 public events. There are also a series of public events planned during the trip, please check below for details.
FoE is planning a series of roadtrips this year, each in a different part of the state. Stay tuned for details of future trips.
The itinerary
See below for full details on each section.
- TUESDAY 14: travel to Bright. Members meetup from 5.30 -7pm. Camp nearby.
- 15: travel to the Mitta Mitta river, exploring the mountains around Mt Hotham on the way. Camp next to the Big / Mitta Mitta River
- THURSDAY 16: Mitta Mitta action on the river – highlighting the threat of logging in the headwaters of this important waterway. (See details below). Camp at Big River campsite
- 17: drive to Mt Wills. Visit planned logging coupes along the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT). Camp on Mt Wills summit
- SATURDAY 18: public day walk up Mt Wills with aerial footage of the area and banner on the summit. Walk to visit the coupes. (See details below). Camp in area.
- 19: travel home
If you would like to join the roadtrip, it is important that you contact [email protected]
There are also 3 public events that you can attend without joining the rest of the trip - please see below for details.
EVENTS
1/ Tuesday 14 March: local issues meetup in Bright. 5.30 - 7pm.
Featuring local speakers showcasing some great conservation initiatives, and a good chance to catch up with like minded people.
Location: the front beer garden at Bright Brewery. 121 Great Alpine Rd, Bright VIC 3741.
This is a free event. Bright Brewery is hosting us. You are welcome to purchase drinks and/ or dinner from the brewery to support this good locally owned business.
Speakers
- Graham Barrow, president, Sustainable Upper Ovens
Sustainable Upper Ovens (SUO) is community-based organisation formed in 2018 aimed at helping householders and small businesses to adopt improved energy efficiency measures, switch to renewable energy and maximise opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle our resources.
- Martyn Paterson, vice president, Upper Ovens Valley Landcare
The Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group is interested in empowering our community to ensure a sustainable future for our land, water and biodiversity. We cover the Ovens River Valley from the town of Ovens south to Bright, Harrietville and into the Victorian Alps and river headwaters.
We promote sustainable land and water management practices that balance: economics and ecology, productivity and resource protection.
Recent projects have focussed on riparian areas along the Ovens River with over 8000 trees planted at sites near Porepunkah at the confluence of the Ovens and Buckland Rivers, and at Germantown.
- Alana Mountain, forests campaign co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth
Alana will talk about some of the special places in the high country at risk of logging, including the headwaters of the Little Dargo River and forests between Mt Bogong and Mt Wills.
Please rsvp for the event here so we know how many people to expect.
There is also a facebook event page available here.
2/ Thursday 16 March: action to highlight the threat posed by logging to the Mitta Mitta River.
Meet at the bridge next to the Big River campground. This is where the Omeo Highway crosses the Big River in Glen Valley. This is about a 50 minute drive north from Omeo via the Omeo Highway, or a 60 minute drive from Mitta Mitta along the Omeo Highway. Search google maps for 'Big River Bridge Campground, 4466 C543, Glen Valley VIC 3898' for full details on the location.
Logging is planned upstream from the bridge towards the Bogong High Plains in the headwaters of the Big River. The coupe in the upper section of the Big River valley is
685-505-0001 (which is 35 ha in size, with a 2 ha road corridor). You can find out more about the logging here.
10 – 11am. Mitta Mitta action on the river – highlighting the threat of logging in the headwaters of this important river system. This will be a simple 'photo op' in the river and a chat and cuppa tea around the fire with like minded people.
3/ Saturday 18 March: day walk up Mt Wills
This walk, of about 90 minutes each way, will allow us to visit the old growth snow gum forests on the summit, visit planned logging coupes and get a group photos with banners on the top of Mt Wills.
This is a free event but please rsvp below so you get all the details on what to bring.
Further details and rsvp here.
Facebook event page available here.
Check here for details on why Mt Wills is so special, where logging is planned, and why it needs to be protected.